#modernism — Modernist Delights

Rankine Building, Glasgow, 2025

A large, grey concrete building with multiple rows of windows and a modernist design. People walk in and out of the entrance, where a blue sign reads James Watt School of Engineering. Trees frame the scene, and the sky is partly cloudy.

A concrete ventilation structure stands against a rough, pebbled building wall. Above it, rectangular windows line the building. A bicycle rack and a parked bike are visible in front, with scattered debris on the dark pavement.

A brutalist-style building with exposed concrete, rows of rectangular windows, and a tall cylindrical chimney. The sky is blue with a few clouds visible. Pipes and industrial elements are seen along the building’s dark exterior wall.

A large, grey, concrete Brutalist-style building with rectangular windows, angular features, and exterior staircases. People walk by on the pavement; trees and a blue sky with scattered clouds are visible in the background.

Close your eyes, and imagine how this would have looked before it had uPVC windows put in.

James Watt South Building, Glasgow, 2025

A multi-storey brick building with many windows, three tall blue-tinted window sections in the centre, and a glass-sided extension on the left. A person sits on a bench near flowerbeds, and trees frame the right side. The sky is partly cloudy.

A close-up view of a modern building’s exterior, featuring large glass windows in a grid pattern. Some windows reflect the sky and clouds, whilst others reveal fluorescent lights and faint interiors. The window frames are metal and slightly weathered.

A close-up of three large, weathered windows in a beige building. The upper window panes are clear, showing lights and reflections, whilst the lower panes are frosted and stained, with visible dirt, cracks, and wear. A metal railing is at the bottom.

A modern building with large grid-like glass windows, four storeys tall. There is a blue-tinted cycle shelter with bicycles parked outside. Part of an older stone building is visible on the right. The sky is partly cloudy above.

Low-angle view of a modern building with large blue-tinted glass windows and concrete balconies. Tree branches with green leaves frame the top of the image, and reflections of the sky and foliage are visible in the windows. Sky is partly cloudy.

A low-angle view of a modern building facade with large grid-like glass windows, some panels are tinted or open. The building has metal railings and a concrete base, with a blue sky and clouds reflected in the glass.

The gate to modernism, Glasgow, 2025

View through an ornate black iron gate of a pavement and street, with a pedestrian walking past. In the background, a modern, angular concrete building and some trees are visible under a partly cloudy sky.

The best angle you can get, when you start taking photos through a single-file gateway, just as a lecture ends and dozens of students politely start lining up behind you.

Davidson Building, Glasgow, 2025

A large, modern building with beige stone walls and tall windows, including a section with vertical glass panels. Trees partially frame the building, and a parked car is visible in the lower left corner. The sky is partly cloudy.

A modern building with large glass windows reflecting the sky and trees. The ground floor reveals a laboratory inside with equipment and shelves, while the upper floors show reflections and some desks with lights on. A tree is at the right edge.

A weathered window with streaked glass and a rusted metal frame on a beige concrete wall. A sign reading NO BICYCLES TO BE PARKED is attached to a horizontal bar in front of the window. Green trees are faintly reflected in the glass.

A modern, tan stone building with large glass windows sits beside a sloping street. The main entrance has steps, a handrail, a small canopy, and signs near the door. Reflections of trees and sky are visible in the windows.

St Andrew’s Building, Glasgow, 2025

A concrete building with rows of large windows reflects bright sunlight. The photo is taken from a low angle, emphasising the modern, rectangular design. The sky is clear and blue, with the sun creating a starburst effect on the glass.

A five-storey modernist building with a grid of rectangular windows, teal and white panels, and concrete framing. The facade has strong vertical and horizontal lines, with a clear blue sky above. The ground level features columns and a stone exterior.

A five-storey modern building with large windows and a concrete façade stands next to older red-brick buildings. Trees partially obscure the lower floors, and parked cars are visible along the street in bright sunlight.

Energy facility, Glasgow, 2025

A sloped city street with parked cars beside a low, brick building covered in graffiti. Behind it, a tall building is under construction, showing exposed floors. The sky is cloudy, and several modern buildings appear in the background.

A dull, rectangular, concrete building with large, evenly spaced windows, many of which are grimy or covered. A red car is parked on a sloping street in front, and graffiti is visible on the lower windowpanes. The scene appears urban and bleak.

Modernist Tesco, Glasgow, 2025

A Tesco Express shopfront with a white and blue sign is set in a grey, industrial building with large glass windows. Graffiti covers the doors and walls. The pavement in front is empty and the sky above is cloudy.

Glasgow Film Theatre, 2025

A large, brown brick building with art deco features on a street corner. The marquee reads “GFT” in vertical letters. There are traffic lights, a white van, bicycles, and a few people near the entrance. The sky is overcast.

A large red-brick Art Deco building with Christown on a vertical sign above the entrance canopy. Glass doors lead inside. A white van is parked on the street in front, and a grey modern building is visible to the left. Sky is overcast.

More exterior shots are available on the architectureglasgow.co.uk website. The McGinlay Bell architectural practice was responsible for an internal refurbishment, completed in late 2013, and their website features internal shots as well as a wonderful cross-section diagram of the new foyer.

Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel, Piccadilly Plaza, 2025

A narrow city street is flanked by modern buildings with glass and concrete façades. At the end, a tall, blocky hotel with the sign “Mercure Hotel” rises over a skybridge and flyovers, under a cloudy, grey sky. The street is empty and wet.

A modern, multi-storey building with Mercure Hotel in red letters on a cantilevered section. The structure has large windows and geometric shapes. Another tall building, City Tower, is visible in the background under a cloudy sky. People walk on the wet street below.

One of my favourite buildings in Manchester, one which I photograph almost every time I pass (dangerously so for my camera roll, given I used to live in the Northern Quarter) – and I’m really happy with how these ones have turned out.

From January 2026, our hotel will be undergoing a full room refurbishment to enhance your stay. Renovations will be carried out in phases, so only a portion of bedrooms will be unavailable at any given time. All other services, including breakfast, dining, and room service, will continue as usual.

Excellent! I keep meaning to stay there. What appear from afar to be slender-framed aluminium windows, though obviously attractive from outside, do not suggest a cosy indoor environment.