Cathedrals everywhere for those with eyes to see.

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

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A Charming Door, Lancaster, 2026

A black, ornate door set in a stone frame with brass decorations and a plaque above reading “SULTAN OF LANCASTER BROCK STREET FLATS 1-4”. A keypad is on the right, and a letterbox unit with labelled boxes is mounted on the stone wall beside the door.

Springfield House, Chelmsford, 2025

A row of three-storey commercial buildings with shops on the ground floor, including Rohan and RUN Active, under a clear blue sky. People walk along the brick-paved pedestrian street, and leafy trees line the pavement.

A four-storey brown brick office building with two glass doors at the ground level, flanked by retail shops. A purple “To Let” sign hangs above the entrance. The building has many windows, some reflecting the blue sky.

A three-storey building with boarded-up top-floor windows, large white-framed windows on the middle and lower floors, and a colourful geometric mural along the bottom, with painted signs advertising indoor games like escape rooms and shuffleboard.

Derelict office block for a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Chelmsford Citadel, 2025

A modern Salvation Army building with a grey, angular façade and a tall tower featuring a white cross on a red and orange gradient. A sign with The Salvation Army is visible along the roadside, with a few trees framing the top edge.

A modern Salvation Army building with a metal facade and red accents. Large windows line the front, and THE SALVATION ARMY is displayed in bold red letters. The building sits on a sunny urban street with a clear blue sky above.

The less said about this one the better. A more favourable review from the church’s minister at the time of its opening, in April 2009, is available here.

Friars House, Chelmsford, 2025

A five-storey modern building with geometric grey facade patterns, large windows, and ground-floor shops. Cars and a van are parked in front. Hanging flower baskets decorate the street, and adjacent buildings frame the scene.

Former office block converted into housing, with an extra storey (dare I say, penthouse?) added. Check out the signage on the Christian bookshop in this photo from 2011.

The Ivory Peg, Chelmsford, 2025

A modern, white, wave-shaped building with large windows and metal railings houses a Waitrose shop. Hanging flower baskets decorate the exterior. People walk outside, and a bus approaches on the sunny street lined with clouds in the blue sky.

Wetherspoon pub in a former department store.

Renold Building, Manchester, 2025

A tall, modern white office building with large glass windows stands under a cloudy grey sky. Three cars, including a yellow one, are parked in front. Another white building and a green-roofed structure are visible in the background. Trees line the scene.

A tall, modernist white building with many windows and a zigzag side façade is seen under a cloudy sky. Snow is lightly falling. The letters “SYSTEM” are displayed vertically on the left side. Other buildings are partially visible on the sides.

A modern, multi-storey concrete building has large glass windows and a protruding glass stairwell. The word “ASTER” appears in black letters on the upper left corner. A leafy green tree partially obscures the lower left of the structure. The sky is grey.

I was having a lovely time mooching around Manchester on a workday… until the heavens opened.

Charles Street car fortress, Manchester, 2025

A multi-storey car park with exposed concrete, black columns, and bright blue stair railings. The central staircase is visible, zigzagging upward. Overhead, the sky is cloudy and grey. A tall, rusted lamp post stands in front of the building.

A large, grey, multi-storey car park with graffiti on its walls stands beside a wet, empty road curving to the right. The sky is cloudy, and modern, mid-rise buildings are visible in the background. The scene is deserted and urban.

A multi-storey concrete car park with exposed floors and railings. The lower level is covered in colourful graffiti. Overgrown plants line the base, and the sky above is cloudy. The structure appears empty and neglected.

Back where it all began.

Manchester Palace car fortress, 2025

A multi-storey car park with brown, corrugated metal panels and concrete floors. The lower level features brickwork, metal vents, and small windows. Vertical and horizontal lines create a grid-like, repetitive architectural pattern. No cars are visible.

A tall, narrow concrete stairwell with vertical grooves and tall windows stands next to a multi-storey car park. A yellow “Car Park Exit Only” sign is mounted on the wall. The sky is overcast and part of a red brick building is visible.

I can only imagine the name refers to the palatial nature of this car park, and not the Palace Theatre next door.

Lower Falinge estate, Rochdale, 2025

A run-down block of flats with boarded-up windows and doors, stained concrete, a green door, and an elevated walkway connecting two sections. The sky is overcast, and the area looks neglected with no people present.

London council estate with a concrete walkway connecting two buildings. Dark, overcast sky with birds flying overhead. Foreground features textured wall, entrance with pillars, and greenery. Brick homes and trees visible further back, creating an urban scene.

A three-storey, concrete block of flats with weathered walls and boarded-up windows, featuring a raised walkway connecting to another building. A white car is parked in front on a grey, overcast day. Blue railings and empty pavement are visible.

I am not immune to the allure of concrete walkways.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, the owner of the estate, is currently seeking to demolish it, against the wishes of a local campaign group – more in the MEN here.

Is that enough warning signs for you? Lancaster, 2026

A dimly lit alley at night features an old stone building with boarded-up windows and a blue metal roller shutter. A bright light illuminates part of the building on the right, whilst overgrown plants and uneven cobblestone ground add to the abandoned atmosphere.