Nuclear reactor or medieval castle? Brutal Welsh architecture – in pictures

[Keith (M)]

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In The Guardian.

A new title in Simon Phipps’ bestselling brutalist series, this photographic exploration of Wales features over 60 extraordinary buildings, including many lesser-known examples of modernist architecture.

Brutal indeed!

[01maciel]

A beautiful series. What is considered aesthetic today is ugly tomorrow. I really like series like this. Such architectural masterpieces from the old days can be found all over old Europe. There is a lot of optical distortion in two or three images. Simon Phipps needs apparently a Leica camera with some good distortion-free lenses

[rogxwhit]

I once met and spoke with Basil Spence (when I was about 20 & he about 59).  In defence of his Trawsfynydd Power Station, it's most commonly seen by road travellers from a certain distance rather than close up, and dominated by a backdrop of quite blocky mountains, so the brutality is moderated somewhat. 

[war]

On 4/15/2024 at 11:17 AM, Keith (M) said:

In The Guardian.

A new title in Simon Phipps’ bestselling brutalist series, this photographic exploration of Wales features over 60 extraordinary buildings, including many lesser-known examples of modernist architecture.

Brutal indeed!

Thanks for posting this. Haven't seen the book here yet, will watch for it to join the collection. You have Sir Basil Spence's Beehive there as an example of brutalism, albeit, much refined. Any photos?  Like to see some New Zealand brutalism photos posted here. 

[war]

On 4/15/2024 at 12:12 PM, 01maciel said:

A beautiful series. What is considered aesthetic today is ugly tomorrow. I really like series like this. Such architectural masterpieces from the old days can be found all over old Europe. There is a lot of optical distortion in two or three images. Simon Phipps needs apparently a Leica camera with some good distortion-free lenses

I agree. Brutalism has gotten a bad rap generally. Architecture is evolutionary, the work of one period does not stand alone, all are based on the past and predict the future. Time is the ingredient we need to trust.

You're right about the Phipps photos, and they tend to exaggerate the darker side of some of the work that some consider offensive. 

[war]

On 4/15/2024 at 12:35 PM, rogxwhit said:

I once met and spoke with Basil Spence (when I was about 20 & he about 59).  In defence of his Trawsfynydd Power Station, it's most commonly seen by road travellers from a certain distance rather than close up, and dominated by a backdrop of quite blocky mountains, so the brutality is moderated somewhat. 

You were lucky to have met him, highly regarded amongst architects here.  

With the criticism heaped upon the aesthetics of virtually all power stations everywhere by the general public, I've often wondered how else, if not brutal, could an isolated, functional and gigantic construction result.  Perhaps they would have preferred something in the manner of Tudor or Baroque.