Introduction

When the architectural historian Peter Blundell Jones (1949–2016) commenced his studies in Modernist architecture its main proponents were Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius, and there was a singular narrative of the so-called International or Modern Style. By concentrating on and exposing contemporary designers who had been neglected in the classic histories Blundell Jones adjusted our perception of Modernism as including a much broader narrative that was also much more diverse than hitherto perceived. Through various biographies and series of case studies he exposed not only forgotten heroes but also made them internationally known and relevant. These included Hans Scharoun, Hugo Haring and Gunnar Asplund. The design principles of these architects are now commonly quoted and serve as inspiration for architects aiming to create meaningful and contextually sensitive places that result in richer environments.