#iphone x — Modernist Delights

Brush factory, Loughborough, 2022

A quiet train station at night, illuminated by yellow lights. A covered staircase leads up on the left. In the background, a large, bright pink neon sign reads BRUSH against a dark building. Wet platforms reflect the lights, and the sky is black.

Glazed staircase in New Mills, 2020

I delved into my photo library looking for something else, but instead I found this glazed staircase at the Swizzels Matlow factory in New Mills in intra-lockdown 2020.

A narrow canal runs beside old brick and glass factory buildings under a partly cloudy sky. The water reflects the buildings and sky. A dirt path lines the canal, with greenery and a corrugated metal fence on the right side.

New Century House, Manchester, March 2020

Looking up at an octagonal stained glass skylight with a geometric, colorful pattern. The ceiling around it is white with visible peeling paint and some cracks, suggesting age and wear. The stained glass glows with natural light filtering through.

A dim, narrow hallway with dirty, peeling cream-colored walls leads to two doorways at the end. The left door is labeled with a restroom sign. The floor is bare and scuffed, and the atmosphere appears old and neglected.

A slightly open, old window with peeling paint reveals a stone balcony railing outside. Blue sky with scattered clouds is visible above the railing. Beige curtains hang to the right, and sunlight casts soft shadows inside.

A hallway with beige walls and missing ceiling panels leads to a set of double wooden doors opening into a large, empty industrial space with worn floors and visible ceiling beams. Exposed wires hang from the hallway ceiling. The scene appears abandoned.

An empty, spacious room under renovation with exposed ceiling grids, blue carpet, scattered debris, and white columns. Two people walk near the right side, and large windows along the walls let in natural light. The space appears to be in an office building.

View through a window showing nearby multi-story buildings with white brick facades and large windows. The sky is partly cloudy, and city streets are visible below. Some reflections and smudges appear on the glass.

A small, brown metal spiral staircase ends abruptly at a ceiling opening in a worn stairwell. The wall beside it has large patches of peeling paint. A person in a black hat stands in the foreground, partially visible.

A group of people in coats stand inside a large, mostly empty room with wood-paneled walls and a dramatic ceiling covered in rectangular acoustic panels. The floor appears unfinished, and some scattered furniture and a whiteboard are visible along the wall.

A sign on a beige wall reads New Century House, Floor LG. Below, it lists Staff Facilities: Staff Restaurant, Staff Shop, Strollers Deli Bar, and Sports + Social Club. The sign has black, blue, and gray sections.

If I posted this 2 days ago when I meant to, it would’ve been 5 years to the day, too!

A staircase on the UMIST campus, 2022

I had a thing for exposed staircases during the summer I moved out of Manchester. Still do.

A modern brick building features large geometric windows with purple panels, revealing an indoor staircase. There is a wooden door at ground level, a small window to the left, and a glass rooftop structure above, all under a clear blue sky.

Ellen Wilkinson Building, Manchester, 2022

A four-story modern building with large rectangular windows framed in black and some outlined in orange. The entrance has glass doors, a canopy, and a sign. In front, there are green shrubs, a black railing, and a paved pathway leading to the door.

There’s more of it, from 2024, here.

And as if on cue, Steve Marland has posted some archive pictures of it, too.

New Century House, Manchester, 2020

The image shows modern buildings with large glass windows and metal frames. A glass walkway connects two structures. The sky is overcast, casting a grayish light on the scene. The architecture is geometric with clean lines and a minimalist style.

Manors Car Park, Newcastle, 2019

A curved, multi-level concrete parking structure with vertical white pillars overlooks a road ramp leading to and from the building. A few cars drive on the ramp. Overcast sky and a modern high-rise building appear in the background.

Here’s another photo of Manors Car Park from a previous trip. I am absolutely devoid of any photographic talent, or even skills (if any of the photos on this blog don’t have my fingers in the frame, it’s only because I cropped them out), but in this moment the shot just lined up right. Even the since-removed sign for the Metro Radio Arena looks right. I like it so much it’s been my iPad wallpaper for years.

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