architecture

Etihad Stadium

/ mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

Manchester has a huge passion for football stoked by an intense rivalry between Manchester City and Manchester United. I paid my first visit to the Etihad Stadium, home to City. CONTINUES BELOW

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Confession time: I’m not a football fan and never have been. It took me a while to appreciate why a failed plan to create a European Super League made headline news this week.

But the Etihad, built in 2002 to host the Commonwealth Games, is a landmark which arouses a lot of positive and negative passions.

The stadium, bereft of fans during the coronavirus lockdown, was very quiet. With my architectural hat on, I enjoyed its lofty struts and ‘tent pegs’ seemingly holding up the entire structure.

It’s on course to welcome fans back from mid-May and is a place meant to bristle with life and noise.

Finally, I learnt my lesson from a lively Facebook post on the topic. Never ask if the Etihad is better than Manchester United’s Old Trafford base!

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Little bits of Manchester

/ mikeosbornphoto / 12 Comments

Living in a big city centre like Manchester during lockdown wasn’t always easy. I craved countryside and coast, even growing tired of the usual urban views here.

So on a series of walks with my camera, I stopped looking upwards and searched for details that you might take for granted.

Enjoy the fragments and if you know their locations and recognise them, that’s a little bonus!

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Manchester towers

/ mikeosbornphoto / 2 Comments

I live in the shadow of Deansgate Square in Manchester, and it’s hard to ignore this quartet of skyscrapers. READ MORE BELOW

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I’ve watched these buildings slowly rise in the last few years, and now the South Tower is Manchester’s tallest, surpassing 1990s skyscraper Beetham Tower.

Deansgate Square can be seen across the city and beyond, spawning the terms Manctopia and Manchattan – the rapid development of a glitzy, high rise future for Manchester.

I see these buildings every day and have photographed them more and more while staying at home during the pandemic.

They catch different lights, reflect the sky and mirror the seasons. They’re not to everyone’s taste but I find them a source of constant interest and a firm fixture of the neighbourhood.

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Five modern buildings that will inspire you

/ mikeosbornphoto / 5 Comments

Modern architecture is rubbish. Actually, I don’t think so. New buildings can be some of the world’s most innovative, striking and inspiring creations. Here’s five that have made a lasting impression on me and are worth visiting. I’d love to hear your nominations!

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART
DOHA, QATAR (2008)

This Middle Eastern waterfront building combines clean lines with elements of Islamic design. It’s become a must-see in Doha for oozing architectural cool as well as the treasures it houses. Classy, photogenic and Instagrammable. TAP/CLICK IMAGE TO SEE MORE

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar

MUSEUM OF 21ST CENTURY ART
KANAZAWA, JAPAN (2004)

A building comprising of cubes, a great deal of glass and even an open window on the sky. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the space. It’s an unexpected feature of a city best known for its ancient history and genteel architecture. TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE MODERN JAPAN

Visitors at the Museum of 21st Century Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan

HARPA
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND (2011)

This hunk of blue glass positioned next to Reykjavik’s waterfront is a centre for concerts and conferences. It’s a very impressive building to find in such a small capital city and is a photographically mesmerising from all angles. TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE REYKJAVIK

Harpa concert hall, Reykjavik, Iceland

SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE
ABU DHABI, UAE (2007)

A contemporary place of worship but also a major tourist attraction. Its numerous domes and minarets make it stylistically the most traditional of these five buildings. But it looks shimmering and new while being very photogenic. TAP/CLICK IMAGE TO SEE MORE

Interior of Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

BROOKS BUILDING
MANCHESTER, UK (2014)

A local building which first took my fancy earlier this year. It’s a faculty building of Manchester Metropolitan University, with a striking exterior which has many perspectives and alters in different conditions. Both the university and Manchester have their fair share of new architecture, which seems to delight and disquiet in equal measure. TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE NEW MANCHESTER

Brooks Building, Manchester Metropolitan University

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Manchester’s sexy car parks

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Car parks are usually uninspiring, dull buildings. But Manchester has some that are totally hot… READ MORE BELOW

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Manchester’s New Bailey area is a new architectural development featuring housing, restaurants and other amenities.

And yes, multi-storey car parks. But they’re not the featureless lumps that usually pass off as car lots. One is encased in a compelling beehive structure, the other is a medley of candy-coloured stripes and lattice panelling.

They’re certainly sexy to photograph. And walking back from my shoot, I stumbled across another car park in the Spinningfields district, clad in a compelling metal of pink blush.

After this photo walk I needed to take a cold shower…

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