08-05-2025
A Pocket Guide to the World's Modernist Architecture
The below is an excerpt from the writer's new book, Modernist Travel Guide, which features nearly 400 of his favorite works of modernist architecture to visit in 30 cities around the world, from Antwerp and Buenos Aires to Sao Paulo and Stockholm, and was recently published by Sight Unseen.
For more than 20 years, I have been fascinated by modernist design and architecture. In order to see and document unique examples of 20th-century architecture and design, I began traveling to these jewels of creativity, photographing them and sharing their histories both on my Instagram account, @okolo_architecture, as well as in magazines like Wallpaper, World of Interiors, and Prague-based Dolce Vita, where I've been an editor since 2009.
Adam Štěch
Instagram
Adam Štěch is a Prague-based theorist, journalist, and curator in design, architecture, and the visual arts. He is the author of two books, Inside Utopia (Gestalten, 2017) and Modern Architecture and Interiors (Prestel, 2020). He has traveled to more than 50 countries to document thousands of examples of modernist architecture and design.
At the time of writing, I've visited almost 50 countries on five continents to explore nearly 10,000 design landmarks—not only offices and houses, but also bars, cafés, galleries, museums, and hotels. My travels to experience these places brings me pure joy, which I hope to share with others through this pocket guide featuring 30 major global cities, each including 10–14 highlights to add to your future travel itineraries.
Of course, as a journalist and historian, I was offered special access to many of the private interiors in this book. But even for locations that don't allow public entry—as noted throughout—it's a privilege simply to be able to stand in the street and admire a beautiful relic of 20th-century architecture, and it's my privilege to be able to guide you on these journeys.
The Bottiglieria Bulloni in Milan features a ceramic mural by Futurist Enrico Prampolini.
Bottiglieria Bulloni, Milan
In 1933, Futurist designer Enrico Prampolini created original decorative lighting fixtures and a ceramic mural for the interior of Bottiglieria Bulloni, still visible in the small bar today.
Via Lapari 2, Milan, Italy, public space
Struckus House in Los Angeles is Bruce Goff's final built project.
You may recognize the Sheats-Golstein Residence from its starring role in The Big Lebowski.
Struckus House, Los Angeles
With this house, designed for aeronautical engineer Al Struckus, the American master of organic architecture Bruce Goff left a powerful testament. His final built project, and his only private residence in California, is a playful but commanding union of space and form inside a cylindrical tower.
