Unveiling the hidden tale of modernism in Wales
Introducing the Pioneering Hird & Brooks Cabins: A Blend of Danish Design and Welsh Holiday Culture
In the heart of Wales, a unique architectural legacy has been preserved, thanks to the visionary practice of Hird & Brooks. This pioneering architecture firm, based in Penarth, introduced Scandinavian-inspired design principles to Welsh holiday cabins in the mid-20th century.
Established in the 1950s, Hird & Brooks, led by architects John Hird and Graham Brooks, built more than 230 holiday cabins across Wales, Cornwall, and Scotland. Their work is most notably seen in the nationwide network of tasteful, high-quality cabins for the Forestry Commission in the 1970s, and at holiday parks such as Penlan Holiday Park.
The cabins reflect the characteristic simplicity, functionality, and connection to nature central to Scandinavian architecture. They favor minimalism, open-plan interiors, and the use of wood to create warm, inviting spaces suitable for rural or coastal settings.
Graham Brooks, a graduate from the Welsh School of Architecture, brought his passion for Danish design to the firm. Together with John Hird, they created residential schemes that combined modernist Scandinavian aesthetics with practical holiday living, helping establish a distinct holiday cabin tradition in Wales.
The historical significance of Hird & Brooks' work lies in their role in popularizing this cabin culture, merging modernist Scandinavian aesthetics with practical holiday living. Their cabins offer a faded slice of homegrown hygge (a Danish term for a sense of coziness and contentment) that continues to charm visitors today.
Two of the built Hird & Brooks cabins are no longer in existence, but it is still possible to rent a Hird & Brooks cabin in Wales, at the Penlan Holiday Park and the old Forestry Commission site at Lochaweside. The authors of the upcoming book 'Cabin Crew', Peter Halliday and Bethan Dalton, own Hird & Brooks cabins and are passionate about preserving this architectural heritage.
Despite their differences, John Hird and Graham Brooks made a formidable team. By the time Hird passed away in 2009, the firm had won 17 awards. In 2002, Graham Brooks received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, recognizing his significant contribution to Welsh architecture.
The firm also built an impressive archive in the Library of Aberystwyth, offering researchers a glimpse into the innovative design process that shaped the Welsh holiday cabin culture of the mid-20th century.
As we look forward to the publication of 'Cabin Crew' next month by The Modernist, we are reminded of the enduring legacy of Hird & Brooks and their pioneering work in bringing Danish-inspired cabin culture to Wales.
- The distinctive Hird & Brooks cabins, with their Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic, continue to provide a taste of home-and-garden living when holidaying, blending modernist style and rural simplicity in outdoor-living spaces.
- The authors of the upcoming book 'Cabin Crew', Peter Halliday and Bethan Dalton, who own Hird & Brooks cabins, work tirelessly to preserve the historic home-and-garden lifestyle, championing a unique mix of Danish design and Welsh holiday culture within their cabins.
