#newcastle

On the Brasília of the North

A yellow exhibition poster features black text reading “Brasília of the North,” dates, and a surreal illustration of curved modernist concrete buildings on a grassy field under a cloudy sky. A floating letter D block hovers above the structures.

That brings our trip to Newcastle to a close. The last thing I wanted to highlight was the Brasília of the North exhibition at the Farrell Centre. We kindly got a preview of it the weekend before it opened, so my photos of it are not fit for public consumption, but I definitely recommend it.

An exhibition exploring the ideas, personalities and broader social, cultural and political climate that underpinned the aspirations to transform Newcastle into a modernist city.

It runs until 1 June 2025, is – ̗̀free ̖́- to visit, and included in it are several large scale models of Newcastle itself as well as select buildings in it – if that doesn’t sell it, I don’t know what will.

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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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Manors Car Park, Newcastle, 2024

A curved, multi-level road descends alongside a tall concrete barrier on the left. A modern, rectangular building with many windows is in the background. Cars are visible below, and the sky is partly cloudy, creating a mix of light and shadow.
A curved, fenced pedestrian ramp with streetlights winds upward under a cloudy sky. Vertical concrete pillars line the outside, and the image is viewed through red metal bars in the foreground. The pavement appears empty and slightly damp.
A multi-level spiral parking garage ramp with concrete columns and metal railings. Sunlight casts shadows across the surfaces, and a Drive Slowly sign is visible. Colorful graffiti buildings and greenery can be seen through the gaps outside.
A multi-level concrete parking structure with tall vertical bars, winding ramps, and sunlight streaming through clouds above. Greenery is visible on the ground to the left, and city buildings are in the background behind the structure.
Curved ramp inside a multi-story car park with concrete beams and vertical windows letting in sunlight. A yellow pillar on the right has a blue directional arrow sign pointing left. City buildings and a blue sky are visible through the windows.
A curved, dimly lit concrete ramp with metal railings and vertical bars on the side, showing green plants growing through the bars. Light streams in from the left, and a ceiling light is visible above, creating a mix of shadow and natural light.
A close-up view of two adjacent concrete parking garages with multiple floors and open-air designs. Vertical and horizontal beams frame each level, and metal railings run along the edges. The sky is partly visible at the top left.
A large concrete overpass curves above an empty parking lot with vertical pillars supporting the structure. Sunlight creates shadows, and a multi-story parking garage with open gaps lines the right side. The overall scene appears urban and deserted.
A modern, curving concrete overpass and elevated roadway stand above a parking area. Traffic cones line the road on the left. The sky is bright blue with scattered clouds, and a tall brick building rises in the background.

Manors has to be my favourite car park yet. This wasn’t my first visit to it, of course, I don’t decide my favourite car parks on a whim! I’ve used this phrase before, I’m sure, but there’s just something pleasantly geometric about the whole space — not just the upright and cross beams of the car park itself, which repeat in such a mesmerising pattern, but how it fits into the space, too, and how the A167(M), the junction off it, and the pedestrian foot bridge (which affords great views of the car park) fits around its curves too. We were lucky to see it just as the sun came out after a rather grey morning, it looked extra beautiful.

The plaque at the entrance says “Manors Car Park — The first civic multi-storey car park in Newcastle Upon Tyne was opened on 27th July 1971 by Alderman Arthur Grey, leader of the city council.”

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Newcastle Civic Centre & details, 2024

A person with a backpack stands on a brick plaza in front of a modern building with a cylindrical structure and a rectangular wing. A large wall sculpture of a figure is visible between the two sections under a cloudy sky.
A view looking down a concrete stairwell with angular turns and metal railings. The stairs are weathered, and shadows obscure the lower levels, giving a sense of depth and geometric patterns formed by the steps and rails.
A narrow passageway between two brick buildings features a tall, greenish, weathered copper panel above the entrance. The panel has a patterned, rectangular texture. Trees and a pathway are visible through the passage in the background.
A tall, modern building with a concrete tower featuring a green metal sculpture on top stands beside a glass office block. The sky is overcast. In the foreground, there is a geometric metal sculpture, and brick buildings are partially visible to the left.
A large window set in a gray stone building reflects trees and another building. Above the window are old, worn blinds. A white security camera is centered above the glass. In front, a metal railing runs along a brick walkway.
A grey, overcast day outside a modern building with vertical metal slats and large windows. Two white vans are parked in a lot with yellow lines. A person walks near an entrance, and a tall, windowed building stands on the left.
A concrete staircase with white railings leads to a closed entrance of a gray building. A sign at the top of the stairs reads: ATTENTION DOORS LOCKED THIS ENTRANCE IS NOW CLOSED. The sky is overcast and the area appears deserted.
A closed, dark wooden garage door with vertical slats is set into a grey stone wall. The door has a small overhang and a rectangular light fixture above. The surrounding ground is paved with concrete tiles, some areas mossy or weathered.
A passageway with marble steps and a green handrail leads to a modern metallic gate with vertical, irregularly spaced bars. Fluorescent lights are set in the ceiling above, and part of a person’s head is visible in the lower right corner.

My iPhone’s camera really can’t convey the heft of those double main doors at the end. It’s definitely a tactile experience, not a visual one.

I also suggested to my boyfriend that we get married here, on the strength of its’ modernist credentials, and he literally did not dignify that question with a response. 😒

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Hadrian Bridge, Newcastle, 2024

A concrete pedestrian bridge with circular windows and a Newcastle University sign spans over a curved road. Bicycles are parked under a shelter on the left, trees and cloudy sky are in the background, and a metal fence runs along the foreground.

The rather pompously named, but still pleasant, Hadrian Bridge, over Newcastle’s Central Motorway.

This may be a good time to shout out Newcastle University’s Co-Curate website, which has come in extremely useful when factchecking (believe it or not, I do bother), and comes with a very rich library of pictures of buildings in the city, which came in useful when researching my one building across three eras post a few weeks ago.

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