The modular was not invented; it can be found everywhere. Surfaces are divided into grids, spaces into sections, and time into rhythmic units. Modular architectures are also increasingly being acknowledged as a means of communication, with the goal of facilitating interplay between different systems rather than constructing a universal concept.
Building on the visionary design system developed in 1965 for Swiss furniture company USM by architect Fritz Haller and engineer Paul Schärer, Rethinking the Modular brings together specially commissioned essays and interviews with leading designers, architects, and thinkers to present the wide-ranging importance and influence of modular design over the past fifty years. The relevant publication redefines the status of modularity in contemporary design history by demonstrating the extensive possibilities provided by balancing rigidity and flexibility, and it provides a rich resource for designers today.