Modernist Delights

Signage, Halifax, 2024

A rectangular sign on a brick wall reads “Frank Ford (2003) Ltd.” with stylized text and diagonal lines. A black right-pointing arrow is below the text. There is a security light above the sign and a blue alarm box mounted to the right.

Posted on December 17, 2024.

Cloudy riparian ruin in the Docklands, London, 2024

A large, abandoned white building with broken windows stands on a waterfront under a cloudy, overcast sky. The water is calm, and industrial structures are visible in the distant background. The building appears weathered and partly deteriorated.

Posted on December 15, 2024.

Spiral staircase at Sovereign House, Anglia Square, Norwich, 2024

A modernist building with angular lines and a glass cylindrical stairwell rises above street level, catching sunlight. Below, shopfronts including Quality Discounts are visible. The sky is clear and blue, with a few wispy clouds overhead.

Definitely want to see more of this city, will have to come back in 2025 (and hopefully at a more reasonable temperature, and hopefully before they demolish this beauty!).

This post full of photos of Sovereign House from an urbex standpoint is well worth taking a look at, too.

Posted on December 14, 2024.

Shop frontage in Sheringham, 2024

A street view of two neighboring shops. The left store, “PANTALOON,” displays clothes in its large window. The right shop, labeled “Clothing Shoes Beachwear,” shows colorful items and hanging decorations at the entrance. The pavement is wet, and the sky is cloudy.

Posted on December 13, 2024.

Single glazing in Stowmarket, 2024

A street scene features a three-story corner building with brown brick and white panels. Shops include Handy Hardware and Argos. People walk by on a wet, cloudy day. Festive tree lights hang from lamp posts, and nearby stores are visible on either side.

Posted on December 12, 2024.

Housing in Halifax, 2024

A tall, beige apartment building stands behind a concrete wall. In front, six cars—black, red, and white—are parked in marked spaces. The sky is overcast, and a sign on the wall reads “Parking For Residents Only.”.

A brutalist concrete spiral staircase with rounded edges and built-in lights juts out from a brick building. A blue column supports part of the stairs. The structure is weathered and sits beside a narrow alley with stone walls. The sky is overcast.

Close-up of a cylindrical, weathered concrete structure with two stacked sections, supported by a blue column. Surrounding it are yellow-brown brick and concrete buildings, with a tall modern apartment block in the background. The sky is overcast.

Posted on December 10, 2024.

The A58 in Halifax, 2024

A person with a backpack walks on a wet, empty pavement beneath a large concrete flyover. The overpass curves overhead, supported by tall pillars. In the background are trees, an old brick building, and tall apartment blocks under a cloudy sky.

Three layered bridges cross each other above a paved area. The lowest bridge is ornate and red, while the two above are plain concrete with large pillars. Cloudy sky, sparse trees, and several people walking below add to the urban scene.

Posted on December 9, 2024.

Decaying office building in Halifax, 2024

A three-story building with worn, peeling paint on the upper facade, large rectangular windows, and orange mosaic panels. One window is open, and the entrance has a black canopy reading TIMEFORM. The door is boarded up with plywood; some shrubs are in front.

Timeform House, a decaying office building in Halifax. All yours to lease for £3,333pcm. I’d happily have that shelving unit in my own house – picture courtesy of Rightmove.

A spacious, modern office with long desks lined with computers, chairs, and office supplies. Wooden cabinets and shelves cover one wall. The room is brightly lit by fluorescent ceiling lights and large windows. The office appears empty of people.

Posted on December 7, 2024.

On chasing villains

If your film doesn’t have a scene where the protagonists are chased by the villains across a brightly lit bridge set against an otherwise dark background, Scooby-Doo style, what are you even doing?

Silhouettes of two people run along an elevated walkway inside a building with bright yellow lighting. The scene is viewed from outside at night, with a large brick wall and blue-lit window contrasting the yellow interior.

A person in uniform runs across an outdoor walkway, backlit by a yellow wall. The scene is framed by a dark building with brick texture and a window glowing with blue light on the right, contrasting with the warm yellow on the left.

Posted on December 3, 2024.

Sign at Manchester Oxford Road station, 2024

This sign at Manchester Oxford Road is a high-vis and screwdriver jobbie for sure.

A yellow-lit sign reading OXFORD ROAD is mounted on a plain grey wall. Metal pipes run vertically and horizontally next to the sign. Modern office buildings with glass and brick facades are visible in the background.

Posted on December 2, 2024.

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