Modernist Delights

Jessop Court, Islington, London, 2025

A red canal boat floats on a calm canal in front of a two-storey brick cottage and a tall, modern block of flats. Trees with autumn leaves border the water, and a white van is parked beside the cottage. The sky is cloudy.

A three-storey block of flats with frosted glass balcony railings, white doors, and windows. Some balconies have planters, potted plants, or washing hanging. There is greenery, including a pine tree, in front of the building. The sky is partly cloudy.

A tall, plain concrete block of flats with white-framed windows stands between two other buildings. The entrance is at the bottom, surrounded by greenery, overgrown plants, and a small fenced-off area in the foreground. The sky above is partly cloudy.

A brown brick block of flats with balconies and a blue hospital sign is seen on a sunny day. Parked cars line the street, and trees with autumn leaves stand nearby. The sky is partly cloudy, and a tall, modern building is visible in the background.

A five-storey block of flats with beige and brown brick sections, large windows, and balconies. Leafy trees stand nearby. The sign reads Assup Court. The sky is partly cloudy and there’s a paved pavement in front.

Previously seen in the spring of 2025.

Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, 2019

A modern cathedral with a circular tower topped by spires, wide concrete steps leading to a large entrance with a cross above, and a glass-walled structure to the left. The sky is mostly clear with patches of cloud.

I was planning a long-awaited return to Liverpool tomorrow, but unfortunately I’ve put my back out 💔

Duncan Street, Islington, 2025

Three-storey brick building with shops at street level, including a hair salon, Double Knot, and Kall kwik. Stairs lead to entrances. Leafless tree branches overhang above. A School road sign is visible. Windows reflect trees. The pavement is mostly empty.

Time to confess my secret fondness for split-level buildings. They remind me of such structures in the homeland, where shops may be on ground and first floors, the latter accessed by an external walkway, streets-in-the-sky style.

The rear of this row of buildings has garages on the ground floor with three floors above, where the front only has two, seemingly with no change in elevation. I assumed the flats, internally, would also feature some split-level malarkey, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Instead, a Rightmove listing for one of the flats reveals another fun feature – top floor flats feature private courtyards in the centre of the building.

Notice, too, the brick benches built in between sets of steps.

Padangle House was originally constructed in the first half of the twentieth century as a textile factory and was converted into large artists’ studios in the 1980’s to respond to the growing demand from London’s creative community.”
MIDA Architecture

Padangle House is currently being renovated, with additional floors of housing being added on top of the existing structure.