Brutal North: Post-War Modernist Architecture in the North of England

by Simon Phipps

BRUTAL NORTH offers the first photographic exploration of modernist and Brutalist architecture across the North of England.

During the post-war years the North of England saw the building of some of the most aspirational, enlightened and successful modernist architecture in the world. For the first time, a single photographic book captures those buildings, in all their power and progressive ambition.

Over the last few years acclaimed photographer Simon Phipps has travelled and sought out the publicly commissioned architecture of the post-war North. From Newcastle’s Byker Wall Estate, voted the best neighbourhood in the UK, to the extraordinary Park Hill Estate in Sheffield, from Preston’s sweeping bus station and Liverpool’s Royal Insurance Building, these structures have seen off threats to their survival and are rightly celebrated for the imprint they leave upon the skyline and the cultural life of their cities.

This inspiring invitation to explore northern modernism includes maps and detailed information about all the architecture photographed.

Genres: Architecture, Art, Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2020

Reviews

[John Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I've got older I've come to appreciate the Brutal more and more, and the animus in local government circles to the style seems unnecessary,: they don';t harbour the same urge to dismantle the overblown Victorian, for instance. This book captures some of the great and the everyday brutal gems across the North, quite a few of whch I know well. The black and white, well grey, photography suits it all well, just three small colour images, one of T.Dan Smith which needed to be in colour to match the man. Some of the buildings really don't look their best in ordinary daylight: the Preston Guild Hall is one of these: it's essential cheapness is too evident, and I personally don't think it stands up to the municipal buildings acrosss from it. One small peeve: the Preston by-pass didn't pass Forton Services: it ended at Broughton, and the extension past Lancaster was quite a few years in coming.

[Richard Hakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lets face it you either love northern Brutalism or have never seen it or care about it.

Not exactly a reading book and as my normal wandering would have taken me to lots of these places has stopped for what seems at the moment in perpetuity it is of little use.

I have visited some of my local sites and while some are gems, some I do wonder why some were included. Maybe its a matter of history or taste?

I think there is scope for a more studied and photographed version one day!

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really wonderful stuff. Great front material. Excellent photography.

[Natalie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful accessible insight into brutalist architecture in the north

[Jaylani Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book on architecture in Northern England. I really love Brutalism because it feels as if we are in a typical 1980s sci-fi futuristic film. Lots of pictures.

[Filip Olšovský · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has just set my destination for the first postpandemic trip.