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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‘1840-1990‘ by Lucy Baird, Glasgow, 2025

A large, abstract metal sculpture is mounted vertically on a concrete building façade. The sculpture consists of curved and angular metallic shapes, creating a geometric design. Windows and a tree are visible nearby under a partly cloudy sky.

Stainless steel sculpture commemorating the 150th anniversary of the University of Glasgow’s Regius Chair of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, affixed to the south-east elevation of the Rankine Building.

Rankine Building, Glasgow, 2025

A large, grey concrete building with multiple rows of windows and a modernist design. People walk in and out of the entrance, where a blue sign reads James Watt School of Engineering. Trees frame the scene, and the sky is partly cloudy.

A concrete ventilation structure stands against a rough, pebbled building wall. Above it, rectangular windows line the building. A bicycle rack and a parked bike are visible in front, with scattered debris on the dark pavement.

A brutalist-style building with exposed concrete, rows of rectangular windows, and a tall cylindrical chimney. The sky is blue with a few clouds visible. Pipes and industrial elements are seen along the building’s dark exterior wall.

A large, grey, concrete Brutalist-style building with rectangular windows, angular features, and exterior staircases. People walk by on the pavement; trees and a blue sky with scattered clouds are visible in the background.

Close your eyes, and imagine how this would have looked before it had uPVC windows put in.

‘The Progress of Science’ by Eric Kennington, Glasgow, 2025

A tall stone relief sculpture on a building depicts abstract and figurative scenes: workers on rooftops, a staircase with a figure holding an object, trees, seated figures, clouds, smoke, and industrial elements, all richly detailed in geometric, stylised forms.

Panel on the south elevation of the James Watt South Building.

James Watt South Building, Glasgow, 2025

A multi-storey brick building with many windows, three tall blue-tinted window sections in the centre, and a glass-sided extension on the left. A person sits on a bench near flowerbeds, and trees frame the right side. The sky is partly cloudy.

A close-up view of a modern building’s exterior, featuring large glass windows in a grid pattern. Some windows reflect the sky and clouds, whilst others reveal fluorescent lights and faint interiors. The window frames are metal and slightly weathered.

A close-up of three large, weathered windows in a beige building. The upper window panes are clear, showing lights and reflections, whilst the lower panes are frosted and stained, with visible dirt, cracks, and wear. A metal railing is at the bottom.

A modern building with large grid-like glass windows, four storeys tall. There is a blue-tinted cycle shelter with bicycles parked outside. Part of an older stone building is visible on the right. The sky is partly cloudy above.

Low-angle view of a modern building with large blue-tinted glass windows and concrete balconies. Tree branches with green leaves frame the top of the image, and reflections of the sky and foliage are visible in the windows. Sky is partly cloudy.

A low-angle view of a modern building facade with large grid-like glass windows, some panels are tinted or open. The building has metal railings and a concrete base, with a blue sky and clouds reflected in the glass.

The gate to modernism, Glasgow, 2025

View through an ornate black iron gate of a pavement and street, with a pedestrian walking past. In the background, a modern, angular concrete building and some trees are visible under a partly cloudy sky.

The best angle you can get, when you start taking photos through a single-file gateway, just as a lecture ends and dozens of students politely start lining up behind you.

Davidson Building, Glasgow, 2025

A large, modern building with beige stone walls and tall windows, including a section with vertical glass panels. Trees partially frame the building, and a parked car is visible in the lower left corner. The sky is partly cloudy.

A modern building with large glass windows reflecting the sky and trees. The ground floor reveals a laboratory inside with equipment and shelves, while the upper floors show reflections and some desks with lights on. A tree is at the right edge.

A weathered window with streaked glass and a rusted metal frame on a beige concrete wall. A sign reading NO BICYCLES TO BE PARKED is attached to a horizontal bar in front of the window. Green trees are faintly reflected in the glass.

A modern, tan stone building with large glass windows sits beside a sloping street. The main entrance has steps, a handrail, a small canopy, and signs near the door. Reflections of trees and sky are visible in the windows.

St Andrew’s Building, Glasgow, 2025

A concrete building with rows of large windows reflects bright sunlight. The photo is taken from a low angle, emphasising the modern, rectangular design. The sky is clear and blue, with the sun creating a starburst effect on the glass.

A five-storey modernist building with a grid of rectangular windows, teal and white panels, and concrete framing. The facade has strong vertical and horizontal lines, with a clear blue sky above. The ground level features columns and a stone exterior.

A five-storey modern building with large windows and a concrete façade stands next to older red-brick buildings. Trees partially obscure the lower floors, and parked cars are visible along the street in bright sunlight.

Clydeside Expressway overpass & Stobcross Street Tunnel, Glasgow, 2025

A railway tunnel entrance under a concrete bridge is covered in graffiti, including large white and silver text reading KINK SPAR. Railway tracks disappear into the dark tunnel, while a paved pedestrian path curves alongside fenced railings. Urban buildings are visible in the background.

Wow, it looks like the Scottish Spar sells very different range of items to my local one.

Works & offices, Glasgow, 2025

A two-storey industrial building with red brick on the ground floor and weathered grey concrete above. The windows are dirty and barred. There’s a door on the left and a parked white car partially visible on the right side of the image.

Live the sort of life in which the mere sight of a light industrial building brings you joy.

Anderston Footbridge, Glasgow, 2025

A pedestrian footbridge with metal railings curves gently through an urban area lined with modern glass buildings and older brick structures under a cloudy, overcast sky. Tall office blocks dominate the background.

A busy multi-lane dual carriageway in a city with cars and vans travelling in both directions. A flyover crosses above, and a modern glass office block stands to the right. To the left is an old brick church. The sky is partly cloudy, and there are some cranes in the background.

Sarah Allen, the head of architecture at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, shared some far more poetic words than I’m capable of, alongside historical pictures of this “bridge to nowhere” from before it was completed, in the RIBA Journal.