Modernist Delights

Former HSBC branch, Huddersfield, 2025

A modern building with brown-tinted glass windows and angular balconies, viewed from below against a clear blue sky. The structure features repeating geometric patterns and sharp lines, reflecting light and nearby surroundings.

Fire exits & AC units, Huddersfield, 2025

A narrow alleyway between stone buildings features a metal fire escape with zigzagging stairs and railings. Several air conditioning units are mounted on the right wall. Sunlight illuminates steps, and a rubbish bin with bags of bread sits in the left corner.

Pearl Assurance House, Huddersfield, 2025

A city street scene showing a modern grey building labelled PEARL with glass-walled stairs, next to white and black older façades. Shops at street level include PADDYPOWER, fusion housing, and TOWN NEWS. A person stands outside, and someone sits at a table.

Spiral staircase at Manchester Victoria railway station, 2025

A green metal spiral staircase with mesh railings stands outdoors, sheltered partially by round roofs. It is attached to a modern building, next to a fence and construction barriers, with a cloudy sky and city buildings in the background.

Burnley Telephone Exchange, 2025

A three-storey building with brown brick and white tiled walls, tall windows, a metal staircase on the right, and aerials on the roof. The front is blocked by a high concrete and metal fence topped with barbed wire under a cloudy sky.

A three-storey building with brown brick and white trim, many large windows, some open or partially covered. The ground floor has graffiti on panels and several parked cars are visible in front. The sky is overcast.

Brick-patterned frontage, Burnley, 2025

A modern barbershop with large glass windows and TOP FADE BARBERS signs above. Outdoor seating with tables and chairs is in front, along with a small decorative tree adorned with orange ornaments. The building has a brick façade and faces a quiet street.

All the best buildings have lampposts directly in front of them.

Guest post: Stockmann department store, Helsinki, 2025

A modern multi-storey building with STOCKMANN signs stands beside an older red-brick building. A yellow DHL van is parked in front, and several bikes are lined up along the cobblestone street. The sky is clear and blue, with bare tree branches overhead.

I’ve not absconded to Finland, although the weather in Helsinki seems a lot more pleasant than The North during Storm Claudia. Modernist Delights’ first international feature comes from my friend Kay, with a photo of a modern expansion to “Northern Europe’s largest department store”. The glass bricks, and the store name on the vertical pillar particularly appeal.

You will find everything you need at Stockmann – the latest fashion, trendy cosmetics, world-famous Finnish design, souvenirs and much more.

Details of Kingsway House, Burnley, 2025

A modern, multi-storey building with large glass windows reflecting the cloudy sky. The building has a rectangular shape and blue-tinted glass panels divided by vertical and horizontal frames, creating a grid-like appearance. The structure extends into the distance.

A modern brick building with large windows and vertical white metal bars on the façade. The sky is overcast, giving a muted tone to the scene. The architecture features both dark and light brown panels.

A grey car is parked in an almost empty car park next to a large building with many windows. A balcony with tables and chairs extends from the building. Small houses and green hills are visible under a cloudy sky in the background.

A glass building facade with rectangular blue-tinted windows in a grid pattern. Some windows are foggy or streaked, and an air conditioning unit is mounted in one window. Part of an older, stained tan wall is at the bottom right.

Former offices of Great Universal Stores, built in 1969-70. Featuring a frieze by Diane Humphreys and William Morris on the southern end of the building.

Brun House, Burnley, 2025

A modern white building with flat, horizontal rows of rectangular, dark-framed windows. The facade is simple and geometric, stretching across several floors. The sky above is overcast, with grey clouds dominating the background.

60’s-built Benefits Agency/Department for Work and Pensions offices, since vacated.

Modernist Delights is a blog about modernist and brutalist architecture. Find out more.