New Books Network Graeme Brooker, "The Story of the Interior: How We Have Shaped Rooms and How They Shape Us" (Thames & Hudson, 2025)
Jan 10, 2026
Graeme Brooker, a Professor of Interior Design at the Royal College of Art and author of The Story of the Interior, explores how rooms shape human experience. He discusses the evolution of interiors, from nomadic dwellings to modern public spaces. Key themes include the five elements of a room, the social transformation of kitchens and bedrooms, and the significance of creative reuse in design. Brooker emphasizes the story behind each space, showcasing examples from iconic architecture to innovative repurposing projects.
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Room As Core Unit
- The room is the fundamental unit of interiors and can be any enclosed space, big or small.
- Brooker argues rooms exist in and out of time, so studying elements across eras reveals persistent patterns.
Design For Diverse Occupation
- Include diverse global examples to reflect how interiors accommodate varied bodies and cultures.
- Design and study interiors with geographic and social diversity in mind, Brooker recommends.
Thematics Over Chronology
- Chronological histories can mislead because interiors often layer eras through reuse and adaptation.
- Brooker organizes the book by thematics—enclosure, passages, objects, atmosphere, technologies—to transcend linear time.
