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Isokon

Architecture firm

Isokon was an architecture firm based in London. It was founded in 1929 by the English entrepreneur Jack Pritchard and the Canadian architect Wells Coates to design and construct modernist houses and flats, and furniture and fittings for them. Originally called Wells Coates and Partners, the name was changed in 1931 to Isokon, a name derived from Isometric Unit Construction, bearing an allusion to Russian Constructivism.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1929Founded1
  • HeadquartersLondon1

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Isokon Building Hampstead 2005
Photo: Justinc, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Isokon was an architecture firm based in London. It was founded in 1929 by the English entrepreneur Jack Pritchard and the Canadian architect Wells Coates to design and construct modernist houses and flats, and furniture and fittings for them. Originally called Wells Coates and Partners, the name was changed in 1931 to Isokon, a name derived from Isometric Unit Construction, bearing an allusion to Russian Constructivism.2

The story

Founded by Jack Pritchard and Wells Coates in 1929.1

Isokon/Venesta Stool (designer unknown, 1933)

Isokon Book Units (designed by Wells Coates, 1933)

Desk made from Isokon Book Units (designed by Wells Coates, 1933)

Aluminium Waste Paper Basket (designed by Walter Gropius, 1935)

Side Table (designed by Walter Gropius, 1936)

Isokon Nesting Tables (designed by Marcel Breuer, 1936)

Isokon Dining Table (designed by Marcel Breuer, 1936)

Isokon Stacking Chair (designed by Marcel Breuer, 1936)

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Isokon Long Chair (designed by Marcel Breuer, 1935-6)

Isokon Short Chair (designed by Marcel Breuer, 1935-6)

The Gull (designed by Egon Riss, 1939)

The Pocket Bottleship (designed by Egon Riss, 1939)

The Bottleship (designed by Egon Riss, 1939)

The Penguin Donkey (designed by Egon Riss, 1939)

The Bottleship Mark 2 (designed by Ernest Race, 1963)

The Penguin Donkey Mark 2 (designed by Ernest Race, 1963)

From Wikipedia’s article on Isokon, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Leadership

Who has led Isokon, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Timeline

  1. 1929Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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