#brutalism — Page 4 of 5 — Modernist Delights

Textured concrete in Manchester, 2025

A gray concrete parking garage with rectangular windows and vents on the upper floors. The building has a slightly worn appearance. A yellow P parking sign is shown on the lower level. The sky above is overcast with thick gray clouds.

Looking up at Lowry House, Manchester, 2025

A tall, brown concrete building with many windows stands behind a modern structure. The front building features a vertical green wall covered in lush plants and a dark metal facade, contrasting with the urban architecture. The sky above is overcast.

Modern and old in London, 2023

I’m not fact checking this so I’m leaving the gates open for somebody to tell me the church is in fact newer than the towers.

A historic stone church with a red brick steeple stands by a canal, surrounded by leafless trees. Modern, tall concrete buildings loom in the background under a cloudy, gray sky, creating a contrast of old and new architecture.

Lloyds Bank, Lancaster, 2024

A three-story, gray stone building with six windows above a green sign that reads LLOYDS BANK. The bank entrance is lit and features glass doors. An ATM is on the left side beside the doors. The sidewalk is empty, and dusk light is visible.

About as well photographed as possible, after orthodontic treatment, and with a bag of apples in my hand.

Barbican Estate, London, 2023

How could I have let this beauty linger in my photo library for a year?

Curved concrete walkways and angular buildings form a Brutalist architectural scene, featuring exposed concrete surfaces and sparse vegetation. A multi-story building with rounded roof elements stands in the center, under an overcast sky.

Reading: The Council House by Jack Young

A book titled The Council House lies on a wooden floor. The cover features a photograph of a modernist building with concrete and glass panels. The book is published by Hoxton Mini Press, as indicated at the bottom of the cover.

An open book lies on a wooden surface, displaying a page titled 36 Broadwater Farm Estate with descriptive text on the left and a photograph of modern, angular grey buildings surrounded by greenery on the right.

Picked this up on a whim at the Barbican Shop after my last visit, and I’m glad I did. There’s a lot to enjoy here, all of it absolutely beautifully photographed. All my faves are at the beginning, so read in reverse if you want to finish on a high.

Links (affiliate): Amazon UK (£15.35), Bookshop.org (£18.95)

Bank, Halifax, 2024

A three-story HSBC UK bank building with a grid of large windows is shown. People and vehicles, including a blue car and a white van, are parked in front. A person in an orange vest stands by the bank entrance. The sky is overcast.

Post Office, Windsor, 2024

A three-story building with a Post Office on the ground floor and many windows above. In front, a wooden market stall with a yellow sign sells German sausages. Several people walk along the street in winter clothing under a cloudy sky.

So distracted by the mesmerising repeating aluminium windows of the Windsor Post Office that I completely missed whatever was going on with The Works 💔

Street View to the rescue:

A shopfront with a blue and yellow sign reading TheWorks.co.uk. Sale banners with Union Jack flags fill the wide front windows. Above are rectangular concrete panels and circular openings at the roof. Neighboring shops and a red Post Office sign are visible.

Angel Way car park, Romford, 2024

A multi-story concrete parking garage with a dark brick stairwell stands on a quiet, empty street. There are signs on the building, parked cars at the right, and trees with sparse leaves on both sides. The sky is overcast and gray.

A grey concrete multi-storey car park with open floors stands above the Romford Auction Rooms shop, which displays furniture and goods outside. Bunting hangs above the shop. A leafless tree and a one-way street sign are visible in the foreground.

A multi-story concrete parking garage with red railings, open sides, and multiple empty parking spaces in front. A single blue car is parked on the left. The sky is overcast, and the building has a utilitarian, weathered appearance.

It has all the mod-cons a car park needs:

Season tickets available
Business parking available
“Video surveillance”
Faded red detailing