EVENT: Brutalism: The Savage and The Sublime (the barbican)

On the 6th November the barbican arts centre (the only appropriate setting for such an event) will be holding a panel discussion on Brutalism in its event Brutalism: The Savage and The Sublime. The discussion will be based on the recent film by Jonathan Meades Bunkers Brutalism And Bloodly mindedness in which he explored in his usual idiosyncratic manner the controversies of the brutalist style which fascinates him.  The panel is made of Sir Simon Jenkins, chairmen of the...

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EXHIBITION: Something Fierce University of Essex: Vision and Reality

Image of the Essex university Library A new exhibition running from 7 October to 13 December 2014 at the Coldchester campus of Essex university will be celebrating 50 years of its bold and brutalist architecture. The new university designed by Kenneth Capon from its founding in 1964 to embrace the architectural style of the day and to encourage its scholars to emulate its boldness.  "The...

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EXHIBITION: The anatomy of a building: Denys Lasdun and the Royal College of Physicians

A unique exhibition opening on 8 September marks the centenary of the birth of one of Britain’s greatest architects, Sir Denys Lasdun, in the iconic setting of his masterpiece, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). The anatomy of a building: Denys Lasdun and the Royal College of Physicians runs from 8 September 2014 to 13 February 2015, Monday to Friday 9am to 5...

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'Balfron season' Bow arts Sept-Oct 2014

The iconic Balfron tower designed by the eminent brutalist architect and designer Erno Goldfinger will be hosting a series of events running until the 12th October whilst the building is prepared for restoration. Artists supported by Bow arts will for a short period base themselves in the tower opening it up to the public in a season of exciting events in which the architecture and the social life of the area will be be explored...

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London Open House weekend (20-21 September 2014)

For one weekend every year many of London's most famous and iconic buildings normally closed to the general public are opened, this year is no exception with the Open house weekend taking place on the weekend of 20th-21st September. I have selected below the most interesting brutalist buildings and related events.   * 8 Stoneleigh terrace (Camden) Sunday 10am-1pm 2pm-5pm tours on the hour Designed by architect Peter Tabori who worked in the progressive Camden architects department in the 1970's, it shows...

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New look and site work

Dear readers,  The site is currently being upgraded which may take sometime meaning many of the links may not work as intended please bare with me! It should take only a few days more. I will also be working more seriously on other content expanding the project to a website rather than just a blog! Hope you like the new and improved look! Thanks for following~...

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The Brunswick centre

The Brunswick centre was built in the late 1960's as a mixed development with an open shopping precinct complete with cinema and residential accommodation above. Located in the heart of Georgian Bloomsbury replacing rows of Georgian houses which still surround the site the building (in true brutalist tradition) makes very little attempt to integrate itself with its historic surroundings and as a result is inevitably controversial...

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Erno Goldfinger in the east-end

This post examines the residential blocks of the eminent architect Erno Goldfinger in the east-end of London. From the 1960's Goldfinger designed a series of buildings for social housing in the east end which included Balfron tower which was similar to his work Trellick tower in the west end, Glenkerry house and Carradale house. His distinctive architectural style, embracing the utilitarian principles...

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EVENT: Balfron tower open day

On the 21st June 2014 for one day only Balfron tower in the east end of London, (the sister of Trellick tower in the west end, both designed by eminent brutalist architect Erno Goldfinger) will be open to the public. A series of exciting events (some which need to be booked - see below) will be taking place inside the building all day exploring the architecture of the tower and the surrounding area.  Built in the mid 1960's the building is...

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Robin Hood Gardens

Robin Hood gardens is one of the most iconic post-war brutalist council estates in east London. Built in the 1960's by the eminent husband and wife architectural duo of Peter and Alison Smithson, it was part of a new generation of projects which sort to rebuild the east-end from the appalling poverty and damage sustained during the second world war. The use of concrete was chosen primarily for its cheap and easy application, although it was at a...

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Update - Preston Bus station 05/06/14

Earlier this year it was announced that the recently listed (September 2013) Preston bus station would not be demolished by Preston city council but ownership would instead be transferred to Lancashire county council who run all over transport facilitates across the county. The county council unlike the city council is not cash-strapped and is prepared to invest in the future of the building, with £8m...

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Bunkers, Brutalism and Bloodymindedness: Concrete Poetry with Jonathan Meades

An interesting two-part programme by the stimulating and thought provoking as ever Jonathan Meades. Broadcast over the last two Sunday nights on BBC 4 and part of a recent excellent series on architecture on the channel featuring programmes about Ian Nairn and the modern superstar architects. Available now on IPlayer. Well worth a watch!  www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/death-brutalism-and-prepu...

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102 Petty France - Westminster

102 Petty France is a government brutalist office block in the heart of the city of Westminster. The corner tower dominates the approach from Tothill street (shown left), the road which leads to the west front of Westminster abbey, indeed it is just visible when looking from the west door of the abbey. On the other side it also dominates the skyline of nearby St James Park and can just be seen as far away as Hyde...

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