Long Live the Modern celebrates 180 iconic buildings, sites, and neighbourhoods, designed by many of New Zealand's most celebrated architects. In succinct entries, the 45 contributing writers document the structures' design, construction, context and history, assisted by historic and contemporary photographs and floor plans.

Auckland's Civic Theatre, Parnell Baths, Harbour Bridge and Tamaki state houses appear, alongside Wellington's Overseas Passenger Terminal, Freyberg Pool, Athfield House and the Beehive. Other buildings include Ernst Plishke's Church of St Mary in Taihape, Warren and Mahoney's Dorset St Flats in Christchurch, Cedric Firth's Monro Building in Nelson, the Putaruru Post Office, the Dunedin Public Library buildings and the Featherston County Council Office. They show an acclimatised modernism, increasingly adapted to suit the New Zealand conditions and a precious part of New Zealand's constructed landscape.

Author Biography

Dr Julia Gatley is a lecturer in architectural history, theory and design at The University of Auckland. The 45 contributors are academics, architects, historians, art historians and heritage consultants from universities and other institutions around New Zealand.