The Tricorn

The Tricorn was a car park situated in the city of Portsmouth. Designed in the early 1960s by Owen Luder and Rodney Gordon, the concrete structure was envisioned as a blank canvas where shop fronts and market stalls would bring colour and life to the building. Originally the building was going to be called ‘Casbah’Continue reading “The Tricorn”

It’s too Late to Save Welbeck Street Car Park

Welbeck Street Car Park is a short walk from Oxford Street in London. It was designed and built in the Brutalist style in the 1970s as parking for the nearby Debenhams. Its facade made from prefabricated concrete polygons has become very recognisable. In 2017 a petition was started in order to put pressure on HistoricContinue reading “It’s too Late to Save Welbeck Street Car Park”

Fair Welbeck Street

FAIR WELBECK STREET, in all your brutalist majesty, Balanced & bold against the massive London sky, Teetering house of cards, it would be such a travesty To bring the barrier down, and say goodbye. In your storey-stacked style, you seem to call To days when we were young, shook hands, dreamed dreams Of progress, motion,Continue reading “Fair Welbeck Street”

Oodi – Helsinki’s Central Library

Helsinki Central Library Oodi Oodi is a recently opened library in Helsinki’s centre. It was designed by ALA Architects and commissioned in connection with Finlands centenary of independence in 2017. The huge wooden structure dominates the area in which it is located. Oodi is an excellent example of modern architecture, filled with workspaces, books andContinue reading “Oodi – Helsinki’s Central Library”

Tell Me All Your Secrets – Hotel Viru

The building now known as Original Sokos Hotel Viru first opened in 1972, after construction delays and a fire in one of the upper floors. Apart from being a hotel the building and its secret history plays an interesting part in the history of the city. The hotel is known for once hosting the KGB. Though,Continue reading “Tell Me All Your Secrets – Hotel Viru”

The National Library of Finland

I recently wrote about Helsinki and put my case forward for it being the city with the best looking libraries, though I am completely bias as I have only seen a handful of libraries outside of Helsinki, I stand by this. There were two libraries missing from that list though mentioned. The first was Oodi,Continue reading “The National Library of Finland”

Does Helsinki Have the Best Looking Libraries?

My interest in the libraries of Helsinki had first come through photography, inside there were these hidden architectural secrets I had to photograph. It took me to new places in the city and I was often hearing about others I had to visit. It became such an interest of mine that one time while takingContinue reading “Does Helsinki Have the Best Looking Libraries?”

Melbourne Trams

As we where staying in an Air BnB a short walk in one direction from Central Station and Queen Victoria Markets in the other, it was easy to get around Melbourne by foot. I find it’s the best way to see a city and stumble across a place you aren’t expecting. And that was exactlyContinue reading “Melbourne Trams”

The Face of Melbourne

The Face of Melbourne The first time I noticed the building was from the ANZAC memorial, far off in the distance a black and white face 32 storeys tall staring back at me. It was far away but I could make out the portrait clearly. I was intrigued and needed to know more about theContinue reading “The Face of Melbourne”

Melbourne Then and Now

My first day in Melbourne I knew exactly where I wanted to go. From my time there eight years ago I had become familiar with the city and knew that one of the best views was found from the roof of the ANZAC memorial, a 15 minute walk from the construction site that was currentlyContinue reading “Melbourne Then and Now”