Much maligned, increasingly loved, this is a blog dedicated to brutalist architecture. This style, popular in the 60s and 70s, is based on the philosophy of form following function and celebrating the materials used in construction. It is characterised by extensive use of exposed, unfinished concrete and often features bold geometric forms with an abstract sculptural quality.
While brutalism is not to everyone’s taste, it’s an important part of our architectural history. Because of this it is important that it is documented, and the finer examples preserved for future generations.
Brutalism is the main focus of the site, but I’m not overly strict about what I include. The Sheffield Arts Tower, for example, isn’t brutalist, but it’s such a magnificent structure I had to include it.
Definitions of artistic schools or styles tend to have fuzzy boundaries. Some examples are clear cut, some not so much. I’m not going to get bogged with definitions. If it’s modern, primarily concrete, and I like it, then I’m going to include it.
I’m Andrew Garford Moore, all photographs are my own. I’m no professional, but I do my best. I always try to get a good mix of photos that show the entire building with a little context and slightly more abstract photos of architectural elements. If a set of photos didn’t turn out right – the sun was in the wrong place, it was dull, the sky was that annoying bright white – I’ll still include them. Who knows when I’ll go back to these places, and if I do, I can get some better shots and replace the rubbish ones.
I hope you enjoy the blog. If you do why not leave a comment? If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at garfordmoore@gmail.com
Brutalist Constructions 
Hi Andrew,
I found your feed whilst carrying out research for my own brutalist Instagram feed. Your shots and info are very good, congratulations.
Unfortunately I am not on Twitter, spending my time on Instagram. If you have time and would like to, please check out my feed @brutal_architecture, there will be some buildings on there you are familiar with.
Hope you are able to get on there and post some comments.
Regards,
Steve Hodgson.
Thanks Steve, I’ll check it out.
The Railway Technical Centre in Derby is along London Road. Have included a link to an article which has a picture. I think this is brutalist – is it? My Dad used to work there in the 70s and 80s. Might be worth a photo opportunity.
http://www.lcrhq.co.uk/news/2014/04/16/major-investment-announced-rtc-business-park-derby/
Thanks Tracy, my folks live that side of town so I’ll have a wander round next time I visit. There are a few buildings in Derby I still need to do, the assembly rooms for one.
Thank you, Andrew for photos of some of the lesser known Brutalist buildings as well as the (in)famous. Also for enabling visitors to download pretty high resolution images, and without demanding a fee! I used to be a town planner and generally disliked concrete structures, but I’ve since fallen under their spell (which seems a fashionable thing to do; albeit a bit too late for many of them). Nice site.
Glad you enjoyed the site! It’s always nice to get some feedback, so thanks for taking the time to do so.
awesome page, glad I stumbled across it !
Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed!
Thank you for sharing this, sometimes when the internet feels like a toxic shower of crap, I come across a site like yours and it reminds me of the good it can be. Cheers!
Brilliant, thanks for the comment, makes it all worth it!
Hi there! Stumbled across this site/blog after looking for Hayes North telephone exchange. Not sure if its within the brutalist criteria, but I’d be eager to learn your thoughts about it. I’m a BT employee and I can honestly say its like no other exchange I’ve seen befor.
Hi Mark, I’ve never seen this building before. Looking at images online however, it looks very much brutalist. My dad is now retired but he used to work for BT, he could tell you where the telephone exchange was in every town and city we visited. Of the exchanges I’ve seen, quite a few are concrete and modernist, as many where built in the 60s and 70s, but they are still quite diverse in form. It would be a good project to do a survey of them all!
Thanks for a brilliant blog Andrew, my daughter is researching Brutalist for her 6th form art course. We are lucky enough to live in Sheffield near to the glorious Arts Tower, Park Hill flats, and Moore Street Substation amongst other brutalist megaliths. She has taken her own original photos but used your blog as research. Thanks for producing such an engaging and comprehensive guide.
So glad it has been useful! Sheffield is a great city. Thanks for the lovely message 😊