Simon Phipps

The first photographic exploration of the post-war modernist architecture of Greater London, from Barking and Brent to Sutton and Waltham Forest.

Simon Phipps’ photographs of the modernist architecture of Greater London explores the form and beauty of these post-war buildings. Following on from his iconic first book Brutal London, this sequel expands his survey beyond London’s inner zones through to the outer perimeters of London, encircled by the M25.

From Croydon to Thamesmead, Wood Green to Willesden, the modernist ambition, scale and structure of these buildings are starkly rendered in his acclaimed photographs. He offers us a chance to look at these everyday buildings in residential, retail and leisure hubs again and appreciate the civic optimism and bold architecture of the 1960s and 70s.

John Grindrod

A captivating exploration of Britain’s most iconic contemporary buildings, from the Barratt home to the Millennium Dome.

‘Brilliant, encyclopaedic, funny and often cutting.’ DANNY DORLING

‘An eloquent, witty, passionate tour of Britain since the 1980s.’ JOHN BOUGHTON

‘Recounts the stories of our lived landscapes with wit, passion and a shot of anger.’ TOM DYCKHOFF

‘Grindrod has spoken to everyone and his observations are humane and acute.’ OWEN HATHERLEY

Wimpey homes. Millennium monuments. Riverside flats. Wind farms. Spectacular skyscrapers. City centre apartments. Out of town malls.

The buildings designed in our lifetimes encapsulate the dreams and aspirations of our culture, while also revealing the sobering realities. Whether modest or monumental, they offer a living history of Britain, symbols of the forces that have shaped our modern landscape and icons in their own right.

ICONICON is an enthralling journey around the Britain we have created since 1980: the horrors and delights, the triumphs and failures. From space-age tower blocks to suburban business parks, and from postmodernist exuberance to Passivhaus eco-efficiency, this is at once a revelatory architectural grand tour and an endlessly witty and engaging piece of social history.Brutal Outer London is a design-led hardback. With maps and detailed listings of all architecture photographed, it enables readers to explore Brutalism on foot, train or bus across Outer London.