Modernist Britain

  • Adam Dorman

An expanding collection of the UK's Art Deco and Modernist architecture. Featuring the London underground stations of Charles Holden and classic ODEON cinemas.

Above: The Tivoli (locally; "The Tiv") was the modernist cultural hub of Mumbles, Wales and opened in 1939. It enjoyed life as a cinema for a quarter of a century, before becoming an amusement arcade. I have restored it to its original opening appearance (as far as sparse historical record will allow).

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Above: Stockwell bus garage, designed by Adie, Button and Partners, with Thomas Bilbow and opened in April 1952. At the time of construction, it had the largest unsupported roof span in Europe.

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Above: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall was opened in 1939, it is a cultural icon of the city and has hosted many of the most important musical performances in British orchestral and contemporary music history.

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Above: The Odeon Leicester Square was the jewel in the crown of Oscar Deutsch's empire. Boasting an impressive 37-metre tall tower and a polished black granite facade. It has hosted all of your favourite movie stars.

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Above: Surbiton station near Kingston is a South Western Railway station designed by James Robb Scott, built in 1937 and opened in 1938. Its iconic facade is a darling of art deco architecture, having been featured in TV's Poirot and the Harry Potter movies.

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Above: In the former Naval industrial town of Woolwich, close to the foot tunnel under the Thames and the ferry crossing, is the ODEON Woolwich. Designed by George Coles and opened in 1937, it has lived three lives. As an Odeon until 1981, the Coronet until 1999, and now as the New Wine Church. The building's magnificent facade is still impressive and modern 81 years later.

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Above: ODEON Balham. Opened in 1938 and half destroyed during WWII. While it was rebuilt and restored to its original glory then, it has been very poorly treated since the 70's. I visited recently and, on seeing it's current state, decided it had to be my next subject. It deserves some new love.

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Above: Trinity Road station (Tooting Bec since 1950) was designed by Charles Holden and opened in 1926 as part of the Morden extension of the City & South London Railway. This is the east entrance to the station which was unusual for being so narrow and for having three large glazed roundels on the top tier.

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Above: Osterley Underground Station. Designed by Charles Holden and Charles Hutton and opened in 1934.

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Above: The Turquoise Island. Situated on the corner of Westbourne Grove and Colville Road in Notting Hill, London, UK. Designed by Piers Gough and opened in 1993 as a public restroom and shop kiosk, which now hosts a florist.

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