For our Inspiration series, staff at The Modern House were asked to list the location, film, painting, building, or piece of music that first inspired their interest in Modernism.

For Nicola, PA to the Directors, it was a longstanding love of horror films that sparked her interest in Modern architecture.

Nicola says:

‘I’ve always had a strange fascination with horror films, and the more I’ve watched, the more I’ve realised that the majority of my favourites are set in Modernist homes in remote (read, sinister) locations. The lines of the building, the way they’re lit and their simplicity makes them inherently cinematic – occasionally we’ll bring properties onto the market which I just think would make perfect horror-film locations.

I remember being particularly intrigued with the house in ‘When a Stranger Calls’ (2006), which is unfortunately just a set. But, minus the (awful!) plot and all the murderers in the wood, it was absolutely beautiful and I just wanted to move in … and then install a ridiculous amount of high security, you know, just in case!