Abstract ：
During the 1930s, the question of popular housing provision became a matter of considerable public discussion. The decade also coincided with the slow introduction of architectural modernism into England. This article explores some of the ideas about a new form of housing development put forward by its advocates, particularly in relation to the idea of flats as homes, and looks at their achievements in the 1930s. These modern architects were firm in the view that improving people’s housing conditions was an important task of the day which called for an application of their skills and expertise in the service of society. Their preferred solution of providing blocks of modern flats with a range of social facilities found favour with sections of the voluntary housing movement. The official slum clearance campaign seemingly gave added relevance to the ideas of modernists. But in terms of actual building, their achievements were limited to a few isolated examples.

Keywrods: architectural modernism; housing; town planning; modern flats; England; London