Fire has a primeval attraction: The image of burning logs still carries ancestral associations of warmth and safety and in our increasingly automated world has come to symbolise the simple comforts of hearth and home. Perhaps it is these traditional associations which for so long kept fireplace styles in a time-warp, endlessly rehashing 'period' themes.

But a breath of fresh air has blown through the industry in recent years, bringing fireplaces up to date with a rush. Henry Harrison is a British architect who has been preaching the gospel of modernism for a surprisingly long time.

His epiphany came in 1984, when he was designing a Chelsea flat for an American. The client wanted a fireplace, but Henry felt that it wasn't appropriate to a modern interior. The client insisted, so a contemporary double-sided 'hole in the wall' was added. Then, because no modern grate could be found, Henry designed his own, forerunner of his now classic chromed 'Euclid' grate.

It all looked fantastic - until the client filled the Euclid grate with ordinary gas coals and Henry had to intervene once more, this time commissioning an artist friend of his to cast contemporary geometric shapes in fire cement. These 'Platonic Solids' were the starting point for his ever-evolving range of hand-cast 'fire objects' including architectural fragments, pebbles, driftwood and autumn leaves.

Encouraged by this original commission, Henry Harrison set up 'The Platonic Fireplace Company', which through the years from 1984 - 94 sold a steady trickle of contemporary fireplaces, but largely to other architects and designers (including Terence Conran and Rick Mather.) An educated eye could see how to use these ideas: The general public though, found them verging on freakish. Henry was not the only voice in the wilderness; other designers too were challenging the iron grip of traditional interiors, but simply not attracting homeowners. British consumers were not ready for minimalism.

It was not until the late 90's that modernism finally broke through, penetrating from High End to High Street with great speed. 'Chucking away the chintz' also involved looking hard at fireplaces and the Platonic Fireplace Company was ready with alternative; sleek, modern fireplaces and yet still retaining all the essential comforts of live flame. The ideal partner to white walls and bare floors; a piece of art that has come of age.