A brush with Brutalism

London is studded with tower blocks. The most modern glint with steely glass, soaring futuristically into the city’s sky. But peel back the decades and you come across lumbering hunks of concrete, apparently blotting the landscape, stark and unforgiving.

My Open House London whirlwind took me to Balfron Tower in east London, an astonishing residential block built in the early 1960s. This building, from the Brutalist school of architecture, is by no means elegant, but was awarded Grade II listed status in 1996.

There was quite a queue to take a tour around this beast. One resident passed by and declared “there is nothing interesting about this building!”

We were ushered in by a young artist who has a one-bedroomed apartment on the 24th floor. Surprisingly, the lift was smooth and didn’t stink of urine. Her flat, on a bleak walkway, had a pleasing Soviet era starkness about it – and a commanding view.

There is little coziness about this tower block, which looms menacingly over the cityscape. It hasn’t fallen apart yet and is going to be refurbished. I’m a huge advocate of the tower block. They are an eternal source of compelling photography.

Click first image for the full gallery experience

For further London tower block action, see:

More joy of tower blocks

London City concrete

Tags: architecture, Balfron Tower, Brutalism, high rise flat, London, Open House London, photograpy, tower block, urine smell

12 thoughts on “A brush with Brutalism”

jdtphotography.co.uk on October 2, 2013 at 11:14 said:

An enjoyable read Mike and it brought back memories of my time living and working near Spandau in Berlin in the late eighties early nineties. As you say tower block are a great source for photographers from the people who occupy them to the architecture itself.

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- mikeosbornphoto on October 3, 2013 at 22:34 said:
  
  Thank you James. Yes, I remember going to visit one of the Brutalist blocks in that area. They’re works of architectural greatness in Berlin.
  
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Noeline Smith on October 1, 2013 at 19:11 said:

Fabulous images – you’ve really captured the beauty in the beast!

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- mikeosbornphoto on October 1, 2013 at 21:03 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Noeline. This is amongst my favourite subject matter.
  
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lena de almeida on October 1, 2013 at 08:46 said:

You certainly make it look like there is something interesting about this building, Mike!

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- mikeosbornphoto on October 1, 2013 at 21:01 said:
  
  Thank you Lena :-)
  
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ckponderings on September 30, 2013 at 08:45 said:

Nicely captured, Mike! Beautifully functional, an icon of its era! :D

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- mikeosbornphoto on September 30, 2013 at 21:45 said:
  
  Thanks Richard! Iconic indeed, though some would debate the beauty. I’m a fan of tall slabs of concrete, I have to say.
  
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Photographs by Peter Knight on September 29, 2013 at 14:50 said:

Very nicely photographed Mike; a really interesting post.

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- mikeosbornphoto on September 29, 2013 at 18:50 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Peter. It’s hard to ignore this building on many levels.
  
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Kiki on September 29, 2013 at 14:49 said:

I like your perspectives! Looks like a place with a lot of details to capture, and where I’m sure I’d have a field day with the camera…

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- mikeosbornphoto on September 29, 2013 at 18:51 said:
  
  Thank you, Kiki, I really appreciate your comment. Yes, a great place for photographs… I could have explored for a lot longer.
  
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