#concrete — Modernist Delights

ASDA car park & concrete ramp, Stockport, 2026

A small red convertible drives on a city street under a concrete flyover. Tall brick buildings cast shadows. Trees and bushes border the area. The sky is blue with scattered clouds. The scene is brightly lit by sunlight.

A concrete walkway with thick pillars and overhead structure casts shadows on the paved path below. Brick buildings and greenery line the left side, whilst sunlight streams in, highlighting the geometric architectural shapes.

Close-up view from below of a large concrete overhang supported by a pillar. There are visible cracks, stains, and spalling on the underside and edges, suggesting structural wear and damage. The sky and part of a building are seen in the background.

Concrete walkway with angular pillars underneath, casting shadows on paved ground. Brick walls on both sides; a round planter with a tree on the left. In the background, a church tower is partially visible above the wall. The scene appears empty and quiet.

Concrete steps with green railings lead up to a landing outside a red brick building. A grey door with a warning sign and light is on the right. The area is empty, with some moss and fallen leaves on the ground. Shadows fall under the overhang.

I started tagging these posts as #car fortress as a joke about the reverence for the automobile in our culture, but this one is particularly fortress-shaped.

51-80 Edenham Way, Cheltenham Estate, Kensal Town, London, 2025

A modern block of flats entrance with a concrete overhang, large windows above, brick and grey panel facade, and a sign reading Edenham Way. An orange parking barrier is visible in the foreground.

The concrete box stretches over the entryway like a ship’s bridge, which might come in useful if the rising sea levels ever come for zone 2.

Trellick Tower, Cheltenham Estate, Kensal Town, London, 2025

A tall, rectangular concrete block of flats with many balconies stands against a blue sky. Shorter buildings and leafless trees are visible at the base. Contrail lines are in the sky. The scene is well-lit by sunlight.

The entrance to Trellick Tower, a concrete residential building, with large block letters above the doors. Three bicycles are parked nearby, and a bus stop stands to the right with a timetable display. Trees and blue sky are visible in the background.

A tall, brutalist block of flats with many rows of white-framed windows and concrete balconies, viewed from below. The sky is partly visible, and leafless tree branches frame the scene on both sides.

A curved, grey, multi-storey block of flats lines the right side of a street with parked cars. In the background, a tall tower block rises against a bright, partly cloudy sky. Trees with sparse leaves stand to the left of the scene.

When I grow up, I’m going to start a campaign to stop putting assorted street furniture in front of grade II listed buildings.

Hillhead Library, Glasgow, 2025

A concrete library building with tall narrow windows and a central entrance. Several people walk on the pavement in front, and a traffic light stands to the left. The sky is partly cloudy. Signs next to the entrance read “Library and Learning Centre.”.

Featuring a “large decorative concrete cantilevered canopy of abstract cubist motifs,” according to the listing documents.

McIver House / 1 Cadogan Square, Anderston Centre, Glasgow, 2025

A concrete building with a Brutalist architectural style, featuring rectangular grid-like windows framed by thick concrete supports. The upper floors have evenly spaced windows, whilst the lower level has larger glass panels. Blue sky with clouds above.

Stafford railway station, 2025

A modern railway station with multiple railway tracks in the foreground and a platform with a large concrete building above. There is a footbridge with glass panels, people waiting on the platform, and posters on the walls. Trees and a partly cloudy sky are visible.

A concrete railway station platform with a lift at the centre. Bicycles are parked nearby, and a cyclist with a blue jacket stands beside one. Signs include “NO CYCLING.” Railway tracks and another platform are visible through the yellow-tinted windows.

A close-up view of a wall covered with small square greyish-blue tiles. The tiles have a slightly rough, textured surface, and some areas on the left show discolouration or staining in a brownish tone. The overall pattern appears grid-like and repetitive.

Two people walk away down a long, enclosed pedestrian walkway with frosted windows and blue steel beams. The corridor is brightly lit, with a dark floor, yellow safety lines, and a sign above pointing to “Lifts”.

A blue door set into a concrete wall is partially blocked by an overhead ramp. A yellow warning sign and a no smoking sign are visible on the door. A propped-up yellow platform and a sign with an upward arrow and text are also seen nearby.

Frosted glass wall with vertical panels and blue triangular metal supports. A small green emergency exit sign with a running figure and arrow is mounted on the white wall below. The wooden ceiling is partially visible at the top.

A modern railway station platform with a concrete staircase in the centre, a green and white train stopped in the background, and a person standing near the train doors. Overhead lights and signage are visible under the wooden roof.

Three tall, narrow windows with frosted glass let in diffused light, surrounded by wooden panelling. The surrounding room is dark, highlighting the bright, vertical rectangles of the illuminated window panes.

A narrow metal walkway with a blue door at the end, bordered by yellow and black hazard stripes above. The walkway is flanked by concrete and railings with orange handrails, located inside a car park with some daylight visible outside.

A modern railway station with concrete and glass architecture, featuring a glass-enclosed pedestrian bridge above railway tracks, platforms below with people and bicycles, and a square tower structure in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

High Chelmer Car Park, Chelmsford, 2025

A large, multi-storey concrete car park with a “market” sign on the side. Colourful murals and bikes are near the entrance; trees frame the image. The sky is clear and blue, casting shadows on the building.

A low-angle view of a concrete building with repetitive square grid-like openings and balconies. The sky above is clear and blue, with leafy tree branches partially visible at the top right corner. Shadows from the trees fall across the building.

A multi-storey concrete car park with geometric, grid-like openings stands above a street-level market, which has a white awning and colourful market signage. The sky is clear and blue, with sunlight casting shadows on the building façade.

Charles Street car fortress, Manchester, 2025

A multi-storey car park with exposed concrete, black columns, and bright blue stair railings. The central staircase is visible, zigzagging upward. Overhead, the sky is cloudy and grey. A tall, rusted lamp post stands in front of the building.

A large, grey, multi-storey car park with graffiti on its walls stands beside a wet, empty road curving to the right. The sky is cloudy, and modern, mid-rise buildings are visible in the background. The scene is deserted and urban.

A multi-storey concrete car park with exposed floors and railings. The lower level is covered in colourful graffiti. Overgrown plants line the base, and the sky above is cloudy. The structure appears empty and neglected.

Back where it all began.

Manchester Palace car fortress, 2025

A multi-storey car park with brown, corrugated metal panels and concrete floors. The lower level features brickwork, metal vents, and small windows. Vertical and horizontal lines create a grid-like, repetitive architectural pattern. No cars are visible.

A tall, narrow concrete stairwell with vertical grooves and tall windows stands next to a multi-storey car park. A yellow “Car Park Exit Only” sign is mounted on the wall. The sky is overcast and part of a red brick building is visible.

I can only imagine the name refers to the palatial nature of this car park, and not the Palace Theatre next door.

Lower Falinge estate, Rochdale, 2025

A run-down block of flats with boarded-up windows and doors, stained concrete, a green door, and an elevated walkway connecting two sections. The sky is overcast, and the area looks neglected with no people present.

London council estate with a concrete walkway connecting two buildings. Dark, overcast sky with birds flying overhead. Foreground features textured wall, entrance with pillars, and greenery. Brick homes and trees visible further back, creating an urban scene.

A three-storey, concrete block of flats with weathered walls and boarded-up windows, featuring a raised walkway connecting to another building. A white car is parked in front on a grey, overcast day. Blue railings and empty pavement are visible.

I am not immune to the allure of concrete walkways.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, the owner of the estate, is currently seeking to demolish it, against the wishes of a local campaign group – more in the MEN here.