Modernism in Motion: Capturing Tom Broughton at the Isokon Penthouse
In 2019, I was commissioned by The Modern House to create a short film marking their collaboration with modern spectacle makers Cubitts. The two brands had come together to design a bespoke pair of frames — minimalist, functional, and rooted in design principles they both share. To mark the launch, they held a charity raffle in aid of Maggie’s, the cancer support organisation.
To support the campaign, The Modern House wanted more than a product spotlight. They commissioned a film that would reflect the shared values behind the collaboration — thoughtful design, intentional living, and a quiet reverence for architecture. The result was a portrait of Cubitts founder Tom Broughton, shot inside his home: the penthouse of the iconic Isokon Building in North West London.
The Isokon Legacy
The Isokon Building (also known as Lawn Road Flats) is a cornerstone of British modernism. Completed in 1934, it was a radical experiment in minimalist urban living and an early home to Bauhaus émigrés, writers, artists and architects. Gropius, Moholy-Nagy, Agatha Christie, and others all passed through its white, ocean-liner-inspired corridors.
Tom first encountered the Isokon in the early 2000s when it had fallen into disrepair, and eventually purchased the penthouse in 2018. His long-standing admiration for the building and its ethos made it the perfect setting for a film about considered design and personal philosophy.
Visual Tone: Reflective and Spatial
Shot with Liam Allen, we approached the film like a quiet architectural portrait. We let the design of the building do the talking: sharp angles, natural light, and precise details framed in a way that echoed Tom’s approach to product design at Cubitts — functional, stripped-back, and human-centred.
Rather than staging whole sequences, we aimed to observe and only placed Tom in choice shots to imply a life lived but not distract from the location. The camera movements were clean and minimal, and the rhythm of the film came from the space itself — the textures of plywood, the play of light across walls, and the lived-in modernism of Tom’s surroundings.
A Quiet Collaboration With Purpose
This wasn’t a large production, but it’s one I’m proud of. It’s a small film with clarity and conviction — celebrating architecture, independent design, and a collaboration with a charitable goal. That combination of form, purpose and restraint is something I try to carry into all my work.
If you're a brand, designer, or publication looking to communicate thoughtful stories about space, architecture or product — get in touch. I specialise in design-led filmmaking that reflects the tone and philosophy of the subject.
