Modernist Delights

Condemned housing in Altrincham, 2025

A three-story brick apartment building with balconies, white-framed windows, and geometric-patterned doors stands next to a paved, mossy courtyard. Leafless trees and a brick outbuilding are visible in the background beneath a blue sky.

A building corner with yellow-brown brick walls, a window with a patterned curtain, and a section of concrete lattice blocks with a honeycomb design. Two round white lights are mounted on the wall near white doors, one numbered 4. The building shows some weathering.

A brick apartment building with white-framed windows. One unit has a balcony with a white railing and a door covered by a blue sheet with a white geometric pattern. Two satellite dishes are mounted on the wall below. The sky is clear and blue.

A three-story brick apartment building with square windows, small balconies, and a tiled central section. A double door entrance is at the center, with a man carrying a red bag standing on the left. The scene is lit by daylight.

Glazed staircase in Altrincham, 2025

A tall, grey concrete hotel building with vertical windows and a blue Travelodge sign near the top, viewed from below against a clear sky. A spiral staircase is visible through the windows, and a metal railing is in the foreground.

Patterned mosaic in Altrincham, 2025

A modern building with large reflective windows on two floors. Between the windows is a decorative panel featuring a geometric pattern of gray and white triangles. The building is framed by sections of red brick and concrete, and the sky is visible above.

You might think the black PVC detracts, but it’s a reasonably sympathetic renovation, compared to a gloomier day in Jul 2022 (courtesy of Google Street View).

A three-story building with a blue-painted lower facade, partially covered windows, and a patterned panel with gray geometric triangles on the second floor. The upper windows are clear, while the sky overhead is cloudy. Neighboring buildings are partially visible.

The Works, Altrincham, 2025

The beauty of the unit above every Works in the country is almost always certain. Altrincham, 2025.

A two-story building with large rectangular windows on the upper floor and a yellow and blue TheWorks.co.uk storefront below. Some upper windows reflect rooftops. The building exterior shows signs of age and weathering.

Modern overlooking old in Altrincham, 2025

A narrow urban street with parked cars on both sides, lined by brick buildings. Bollards block vehicle access further down. Leafless trees and a modern glass building are visible in the background under a blue sky with light clouds.

Altrincham Methodist Church + details, 2025

A modern building with a glass entrance and patterned concrete walls is labeled Altrincham Methodist Church. A ramp with brick side walls leads to the door. The sky is bright and hazy. To the right, there are parked cars and a row of apartment buildings.

A brick church building with a tall, narrow facade features a large white cross on patterned concrete blocks. The roof peaks above, and blue sky with wispy clouds is visible. House numbers 39 and 40 are seen at the bottom of the building.

A brick building features four concrete decorative screens with geometric patterns. In front of them are several potted plants and flowers in green, blue, and terracotta pots. The upper part of the building has slanted windows.

A row of tall, narrow stained-glass windows set between concrete columns on a brick building. Potted plants and flowers line the ground beside the wall. The sky is blue with a visible contrail and a crescent moon. A wooden door is seen at the left.

Photographer bait, Lancaster, 2025

Leaving a wee kids’ bike in front of a decaying warehouse on an industrial estate just as the sun sets behind it, to me, is like the proverbial van full of sweets. After deviating from my route back from the gym to take a photo, I’m surprised I’m not in some basement with my face on a milk carton right now.