Description

‘Captures the most aspirational and enlightened architecture of the north’s postwar years’ Guardian

During the post-war years the North of England saw the building of some of the most 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 years, acclaimed photographer Simon Phipps has travelled and sought out the publicly commissioned architecture of the post-war North. Buildings include: Newcastle’s Byker Wall Estate (voted the best neighbourhood in the UK), the extraordinary Park Hill Estate in Sheffield, Preston’s sweeping bus station, Liverpool’s Royal Insurance Building and much more. 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.

Publisher Review

Praise for Concrete Poetry: 'Mr Phipps follows up on his ace books on Brutalism with this one on post-war Modernist public art in the UK - and it's an absolute beauty that'll get you going for a look about at angular concrete lumps in squares. A masterclass in book design too.' Simon Armstrong, Tate | 'Simon's black and white images of Brutalist and post-war buildings in the UK are defined by their striking compositions in which the raw architectural forms of his subjects are laid bare.' The Modern House