Soaring intimidation

Click first image to launch the gallery

This is a daunting sight on the west London skyline. It’s called Trellick Tower, a Brutalist tower block. If you’re standing close to this concrete beast, it soars above you and leaves you feeling dwarfed and a little intimidated.

But the curtained windows and bristling satellite dishes show that it’s home to a lot of people. Even an edifice like this has a soul.

Trellick was a slight detour on the canalside walk I took with fellow photographer Richard Cooper-Knight. I also went to visit its east London sibling – Balfron Tower – some months ago and visited one of the apartments inside with its impressive views.

Impressive is the word for architecture like this…

Tags: architecture, Brutalist, concrete tower, high rise, intimidation, London, photography, satellite dishes, tower block, Trellick Tower

13 thoughts on “Soaring intimidation”

moorezart on May 31, 2014 at 21:50 said:

Reblogged this on rebloggobbler.

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leecleland on May 19, 2014 at 23:16 said:

Brutalistic (brutalism) in architecture for sure, the first image of the Trellick Tower runs the whole gamut of impressions from threatening, intimidating, overlording, brutal and wait for it; majestic :) I also like the satellite dishes makes the place look even more alien. Cities do make for interesting images of a different kind.

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 28, 2014 at 09:50 said:
  
  Thank you very much, Lee. Indeed, I guess there’s not too much of this in your part of the world. I see it in the distant on the way to work and have been meaning to get up close and personal for a long time.
  
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RobynG on May 19, 2014 at 17:36 said:

Incredible perspective!

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 19, 2014 at 17:37 said:
  
  Thank you Robyn. That’s what being very close to something very tall does for you!
  
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Cos on May 19, 2014 at 14:03 said:

You did great work capturing this giant, Mike. I love the photo with the satellite dishes :-)

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- mikeosbornphoto on May 19, 2014 at 14:07 said:
  
  Hi Koos and thank you :) I must say it was all my Christmases come at once when I got close to this baby. Is there anything as massive in the Netherlands?
  
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  - Cos on May 19, 2014 at 14:22 said:
    
    There was a big building in The Hague, but they’ve demolished it. It was called The Black Madonna. It wasn’t that high, but it was very large. And in Rotterdam there are many skyscrapers :-)
    
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    - mikeosbornphoto on May 19, 2014 at 14:23 said:
      
      Oh! I should pay a visit. Grotesquely huge buildings make me happy :-)
      
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      - Cos on May 19, 2014 at 14:28 said:
        
        … and that makes me happy :-D
        
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        mikeosbornphoto on May 19, 2014 at 14:34 said:
        
        Ha! We’ll do it one of these days. It’s not so far away, after all…
        
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        Cos on May 19, 2014 at 16:09 said:
        
        Just let me know when en where ;-)
        
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        mikeosbornphoto on May 19, 2014 at 17:00 said:
        
        Of course!
        
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