What's your favourite bit of brutalist architecture?

[Grant Fondo]

Defo looks more like UEA to me......not enough sunshine for UAE
We visited about 8 years back when our lad was considering options: quite a striking place....he ended up at the 'sister' uni, Essex - & up high in one of the stark blue engineering brick tower blocks.
View attachment 634740

Oops!

 

[Blue Hills]

Love that! Now Grade II* and, ahem, £500k+ for a 2 bed flat.

I think the places get a fair bit of light - and I like the fact that though it might at first look like a bit of concrete boxiness, the flats/houses are actually arranged around what is essentially a traditional street - but with no cars. So folk naturally meet their neighbours - a fair few places were built with that in mind from the 60s onwards - cars kept at a distance - very farsighted since it was apparently the height of carmania and folks were getting excited about being able to drive into things. A far better solution to urban living I think than the rash of damn supposedly luxury flats that now blight London and will blight London as they age.

 

[Grant Fondo]

High tech not brutalist? Won loads of awards in the 80's though, in Camden.

 

[Blue Hills]

An award for Preston bus station's refurb.

BBC News - Preston bus station revamp wins conservation group prize
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-60705895

 

[GuyBoden]

If you've not seen it, this documentary outlines the failures of Tower Block prefabricated construction.

 

[stephec]

That north London one - found it.

Rowley Way - or the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate.

View attachment 634638

Pretty sure I owe my knowledge of this place to some wonderful architecture bike rides that the great Lambeth Cyclists used to do (it's not in lambeth but camden but they got around).

A proud tenant/occupier whatever invited us up onto their terrace for a closer look.

There was a documentary on over a year ago about council housing, presented by a geordie bloke who grew up in one, I'm sure those houses were in the programme.

 

[Blue Hills]

There was a documentary on over a year ago about council housing, presented by a geordie bloke who grew up in one, I'm sure those houses were in the programme.

be interested if you could recall some details.
What channel/media was the prog?
The decline of social housing is IMHO one of the scandals/shames of the last four decades.
Quite a few of the impressive brutalist schemes built as council housing by inspired architects have now become expensive hang-outs for the better off. May post another one I saw recently.

 

[stephec]

be interested if you could recall some details.
What channel/media was the prog?
The decline of social housing is IMHO one of the scandals/shames of the last four decades.
Quite a few of the impressive brutalist schemes built as council housing by inspired architects have now become expensive hang-outs for the better off. May post another one I saw recently.

I'm sure it's this guy but I can't find anything on there that matches what I remember - https://georgeclarke.com/

And he's a mackem, not a geordie. 😂

 

[Blue Hills]

Interview with Neave Brown, architect of the Alexandra Road estate, shortly before his death.

Has great pic of the estate under construction which shows its ambition.

https://www.bdonline.co.uk/briefing...her-and-the-future-of-housing/5089883.article

 

[MontyVeda]

I think that one's been used as a few TV locations recently. (By "recently" I mean "not in The Bill" !)

To their credit, they've packed it with so much attractive green stuff it looks a nice place.

It was used in an episode of The Sweeney when still under construction

 

[Grant Fondo]

A few Oxford buildings have made it onto this interesting thread - this blogger is keen on the subject.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/ourshadowswillremain.com/2020/03/05/brutal-oxford/amp/

 

[Gunk]

If you've not seen it, this documentary outlines the failures of Tower Block prefabricated construction.

Thanks for this, a really fascinating documentary

 

[GuyBoden]

be interested if you could recall some details.
What channel/media was the prog?
The decline of social housing is IMHO one of the scandals/shames of the last four decades.
Quite a few of the impressive brutalist schemes built as council housing by inspired architects have now become expensive hang-outs for the better off. May post another one I saw recently.

George Clarke

Channel 4:
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-council-house-scandal

More info:
https://www.councilhousescandal.co.uk/

 

[Bollo]

A few Oxford buildings have made it onto this interesting thread - this blogger is keen on the subject.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/ourshadowswillremain.com/2020/03/05/brutal-oxford/amp/

Oxford does have some interesting brutalist stuff for sure and it also shows that the building can be successful if they're maintained. Unfortunately some of the more technical buildings like the Denys Wilkinson are struggling to stay fit for purpose. The Tinbergen Building was another example of Oxford brutalism that was due for renovation but had to be condemned due to asbestos issues.

https://cherwell.org/2018/12/06/oxford-announces-demolition-of-tinbergen-building/

 

[matticus]

A few Oxford buildings have made it onto this interesting thread - this blogger is keen on the subject.
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/ourshadowswillremain.com/2020/03/05/brutal-oxford/amp/

Oh dear. The Denys Wilkinson is almost likeable - certainly when viewed against the others on that page.

Honestly, when I'm in Oxford and see those I just give thanks for the attractive buildings nearby - perhaps the contrast improves them!