One hundred years is a long time when talking about modern homes. Specifically in reference to the 20th century, it can be difficult to express a single overarching theme when examining the rapid transformation of residential design within a single country. But certain projects often shimmer against the rest, acting as stepping stones that chart a path of progression across decades.

A new book from the 20th Century Society and U.K. publisher Batsford, 100 20th-Century Houses, organizes the region’s projects in one volume, bringing us its most significant homes in terms of innovation. To be clear, there are no flats, grand estates, or tower blocks like Park Hill or Trellick in these pages. Instead, you’ll find one-off wonders from the Arts and Crafts movement, high-tech experiments, mock Tudors, and more.

But that is not to say mass housing is not a part of this story, either. Take for example Silver Street in Essex or New Ash Green in Kent, which offer contrasting interpretations of modernism, a style featured prominently in the book. And while Britain was denied Lautner, Lloyd Wright, and Neutra, it did have Gwynne, Manasseh and Womersley—and their best best work appears here.

Out of the 100 homes featured in the book, available now in the U.K. and spring 2023 in the U.S., we’ve whittled down the list to 10 to share those that were especially daring. Below, find a visual feast of sumptuous photography of some of the region’s most bold and beautiful homes.

The Homewood by Patrick Gwynne, Surrey

New Ash Green by Span Developments, Kent

Hill House by Denys Lasdun, Hampshire

Eagle Rock House by Ritchie Studio, East Sussex

Winterbrook House by Ken Shuttleworth, Winterbrook

Janet Street-Porter House by Piers Gough, London

Malator by Future Systems, Pembrokeshire

Stock Orchard Street by Sarah Wigglesworth with Jeremy Till, London

House No.7, Tiree

Banham Studio House, Cambridgeshire

Appears In

10 Wildly Innovative U.K. Homes of the 20th Century That Outshine the Rest