24/08/2026
'Atomic' interiors.
So, did you read Ray Bradbury's 'There Will Come Soft Rains' this month? Written in 1950, the story covers one day only - 4th August 2026. Thankfully we haven't quite reached his vision of the future, but much of this will resonate. Bradbury looked to the past (the horrific use of nuclear bombs in WW2) to create his warnings for the future. His short story (see this shared post to read it) also features a poem by Sara Teasdale (the title of which Bradbury used for his story) written on the back of WW1 and the flu pandemic that followed.
Those interested in 1950's design / 'space / atomic age' interiors will note the kitchen set up. As many of you know, American Mid Century kitchens, with their inbuilt gadgets, did actually exist at the time. Occasionally they pop up on Instagram in all their pastel coloured loveliness. Even today their functionality is impressive. Bradbury's imagined house fits somewhere between this and contemporary 'smart homes'.
A beautifully written, incredibly bleak but fascinating tale of a post-nuclear 4th August 2026 in California from a 1940s/50s POV. August 2026 was hot in England, where I am, but the month brought much needed rain to the UK amidst our fears of nationwide (and worldwide) fires and global warming.
If you can recommend articles/books about the post-war era and contradictions (existential fears and futuristic / atomic design) please do drop them in the comments.
August 4, 2026 is the date of one of "There Will Come Soft Rains," which might be Ray Bradbury's most harrowing short story. Written in 1950, it's about a "smart house" that survives its owners — 76 years later, it feels spookily prescient.https://www.btboces.org/Downloads/7_There%20Will%20Come%20Soft%20Rains%20by%20Ray%20Bradbury.pdf
