Linknote — — 22 words

Architecture

Kia Utzon-Frank creates brutalist-inspired marshmallow treats

I love concrete, but I can’t say I have ever wanted to eat any… Until now!

Photo — — 30 words

Architecture — Human-centred approaches

Slope brutalist coasters

We have added a bit of brutalism to our living room with these fantastic brutalist coasters made by Slope Design.

Each coaster represents one of four iconic British brutalist buildings.

Linknote — — 170 words

Architecture — Digital — Human-centred approaches

Sticks in the ground for public services

You know I love a bit of brutalism. Well here, Ben Holliday draws a comparison between civic architecture of the mid-20th century, and modern-day digital local services.

Many of these buildings are now disused or in different states of disrepair. It’s an important reminder. The fact is, no matter how bold you set out to be. No matter how big or successfully your original statement of intent, eventually the roof will start to leak.

Buildings, just like ideas, need maintenance. They fall into disrepair over time.

I have written a few times before about the parallels I see between architecture and digital services. It’s well worth learning the lessons from the past and applying them to our own projects.

Linknote — — 37 words

Architecture — Politics

Grim images of the last days at an English public housing estate

A photographic story of the final days of Lion Farm Estate, which faced demolition in the 1991 following the Margaret Thatcher government’s right to buy legislation.

Linknote — — 59 words

Architecture

Robin Hood Gardens and the divisiveness of brutalism

I was amazed — and delighted — by the V&A design museum’s decision to preserve a section of Robin Hood Gardens, the controversial social housing estate that is set to be demolished. It will be the largest section of a modern building ever to be preserved by a museum.

Linknote — — 74 words

Architecture

These pictures capture Britain’s brutalist vision of urban utopias

A selection of lecture slides from John Richings James. He was chief planner of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government during the 1960s, when many of the country’s most controversial developments were constructed.

When he became a lecturer, he took with him a fascinating selection of photos that show the good, bad and ugly of the brave new world while it was being developed.

Linknote — — 26 words

Architecture — Human-centred approaches

The 1960s future town of Motopia – Mariabruna Fabrizi, Socks

A radical idea for a new town — one where the roads are on all the rooftops.

Linknote — — 50 words

Architecture

Robin Hood Gardens — V&A

Absolutely stunning news that the V&A design museum has acquired a section Robin Hood Gardens for preservation. The design may be controversial and divisive, but I find it difficult to understand any argument that it is not significant and worth preserving.