There are just 4 days left to support The Modernist Society’s Crowdfunder raising funds for the publication of Bruce Peter’s Modernist Scotland — a fully illustrated guide to 150 transformative post-war Scottish buildings.

This comprehensive study documents the revolutionary architectural movement that transformed Scotland’s built environment in the decades following World War II. Through meticulous research and stunning visual documentation, Bruce Peter examines 150 significant modernist structures that shaped Scottish cities, towns, and landscapes—from pioneering housing schemes and civic centres to innovative educational and cultural buildings.

Modernist Scotland aims to be a living history and a manifesto, seeking to encourage greater understanding and appreciation of Scotland’s post-war built heritage and of the many diverse manifestations of the modern movement to have arisen there. This is necessary because since the 1970s many fine post-war buildings and environments have been neglected, unsympathetically altered or destroyed and many more – ranging from very large examples, such the Cumbernauld Town Centre megastructure, to small buildings such as pubs, houses and churches – are at risk.

The book reveals how architects in Scotland embraced modernist principles while responding to local contexts, materials, and social needs, creating a distinctive architectural identity that bridged the international movement with regional character. Each building is presented with detailed analysis, historical context, and high-quality photography that captures both the bold vision of the era and the current state of these structures.

The book comprises two parts. Part 1 is a circa 10,000-word illustrated essay, explaining the development of modernism in Scottish architecture, planning, design and culture and emphasising the significance of the country’s post-war built heritage. This is accompanied by never-previously-published illustrations from the author’s collection of modernist buildings and environments, photographed when new and pristine in the 1950s-1970s.

Part 2 contains a survey in chronological order of 150 of the most architecturally and culturally interesting of Scotland’s remaining post-war modernist buildings and places. This comprises new architectural photographs, each with an accompanying text to narrate the subject’s history, significance and aesthetic qualities. A very wide diversity of types of building and place are included with examples relating to popular culture, engineering and technology alongside ones primarily regarded for their architectural qualities.

Modernist Scotland serves as both an architectural record and a cultural history, examining how these buildings reflected and influenced Scottish society’s post-war transformation. This essential volume will appeal to architects, historians, students, and anyone interested in Scotland’s built heritage and the enduring impact of modernist design.

Crowdfunder perks include a first edition of the book, bookmarks, pin badges, tickets to the book’s launch, and limited edition prints. Find further information — and pledge your support! — here.