Unveiling the Off-the-Beaten-Path Tale of Welsh Contemporary Art Movement

Hird & Brooks: A Legacy of Danish-Inspired Cabin Culture in Wales

A new book, 'Cabin Crew', set to be published next month by The Modernist, delves into the story of Hird & Brooks, a pioneering architecture firm that left an indelible mark on Wales' holiday cabin culture in the mid-20th century.

Founded in the 1950s in Cardiff by John Hird and Graham Brooks, the firm's architectural vision was influenced by Danish design principles. Brooks, a graduate of the Welsh School of Architecture, joined Hird's team in 1956, bringing his passion for modernist aesthetics to the forefront of their designs.

In the 1970s, Hird & Brooks built a nationwide network of tasteful, high-quality cabins for the Forestry Commission, tucked away in the UK's most scenic woodlands. Over two decades, they constructed more than 230 holiday cabins in Wales, Cornwall, and Scotland.

Two of the firm's most notable works include Cardiff's Capel House (1966) and a complex of 17-holiday homes built in Pembrokeshire, which is still owned by one of the book's authors, Peter Halliday. Bethan Dalton, another author, also owns Hird & Brooks' Penlan Holiday Park.

The book reveals the unique Danish-inspired cabin culture that Hird & Brooks cultivated in Wales. Their designs were characterised by clean lines, minimalist interiors, and a harmonious relationship with the natural environment.

Sadly, only five of the planned Hird & Brooks sites were actually built, and two of the original cabins are no longer in existence. However, it is still possible to rent a Hird & Brooks cabin at the Penlan Holiday Park and the old Forestry Commission site at Lochaweside.

By the time Hird passed away in 2009, the firm had won 17 awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Brooks from the Royal Society of Architects in Wales in 2002. The firm also built an impressive archive in the Library of Aberystwyth, providing a valuable resource for future generations to study their work.

Brooks himself passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy of innovative and beautifully designed holiday cabins that continue to be enjoyed by visitors to Wales today. Despite the passing of time, the spirit of Hird & Brooks lives on, offering a unique glimpse into mid-century modernist design and the cabin culture of Wales.