As many designers will attest, modernism is a concept that holds a lot more weight than one may expect. Gestalten's new book titled Inside Utopia: Visionary Interiors and Futuristic Homes attempts to unpack the meaning of modernism, with case studies spanning over three decades and 13 countries. Coming from the Berlin-based publishing house that's known for its exquisitely curated titles on art and design, the book articulates and connects seemingly disparate design movements across time and geography.

Cover image: Frey House II by Albert Frey, Palm Springs, CA, 1948. Photo by Undine Pröhl.

Inside Utopia highlights three distinct sub-movements under the umbrella of modernism, starting with the optimistic flair of the 1950s. As the introductory reads, the '50s set the tone for architects to act as "emperors of uncharted territory," prompting a profusion of futuristic Case Study homes, primarily in and around Los Angeles. At the center of California modernism, designers like Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig, and A. Quincy Jones created the design canon for midcentury modernism.

If the 1950s aesthetic was all about what a grand future might look like, then the '60s and '70s were about a psychedelic means of self expression. Gestalten states,"Examining the evolution of the living space and its expressive cues in the second half of the century is illuminating. Because today, our tastes revolve around that past more than ever, around an idea of a radical future that never came true." As many of today's designers continue to source inspiration from the midcentury canon, it's helpful to understand the origin and historical significance of characteristic modern design elements. This book does just that by taking you back in time and leading you to some of the most influential homes in modernism's history.

Inside Utopia is available here.