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SALON NO.114: Brutalist London

Concrete and Class

7.00pm Thursday 27th June 2024

The Horse Hospital
Colonade
London 
WC1N 1JD

Admission: Tickets £10.00 in advance only HERE


Photographer SIMON PHIPPS and author THADDEUS ZUPANCIC show how Brutalist architecture, the controversial style that emerged in the mid-20th century, left an indelible mark on the urban landscape of London. 

Its raw concrete and imposing geometric forms spawned some of the city's most striking structures. A selection of the best might include the Barbican, the National Theatre, Trellick Tower, the Royal College of Physicians, Brunel University and the Alexandra Road estate. 

A role call of the most controversial (and now demolished) would include Robin Hood Gardens, Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, Pimlico School and the Thamesmead South estate.



SIMON PHIPP's extraordinary black and white photographs of brutalist London capture a 'period of optimism and community, now buried under almost half a century of privatisation and individualism', whilst author THADDEUS ZUPANCIC has explored the ideology and intentions behind some of the brutalist structures that have made, or for some, marred the metropolis. 



Simon and Thaddeus explore whether they were ideological sculptural impositions, dismissive of ordinary human scale, or bold statements challenging conventional notions of beauty and functionality; the creations of egocentric architects wilfully blind to the social problems they might foster, or raw and uncompromising monuments that take time to love.

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SIMON PHIPPS born in Leeds, is an artist based in London. He is a graduate in sculpture from the Royal College of Art and an acclaimed photographer of post-war modernist architecture and design. He is the award-winning author of books including Brutal London, Finding Brutalism, Concrete Poetry, Brutal North, Outer Brutal London and the recently published Brutal Wales

THADDEUS ZUPANCIC is a Slovenian-born writer and translator. He has lived in London since 1991. For the first 14 years he worked as a radio producer with the BBC World Service.  His book LONDON ESTATES: MODERNIST COUNCIL HOUSING 1946-1981, features schemes from every borough and the City of London. It documents these important buildings in all their diversity, championing the neglected alongside the distinguished, celbrating their vital contribution to the social and architectural fabric of the capital. He can be found on Instagram at the 20th Century society's account @c20society and @notreallyobsessive' 

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Our home, THE HORSE HOSPITAL, is a unique Grade II listed not for profit, independent arts venue within the only existing unspoilt example of a two-floor, purpose-built stable with public access in London. 

Built in 1797 by James Burton. the shell is constructed with London Stocks whilst the interior features a mock cobbled re-inforced concrete floor and ramps with slats to prevent the horses from slipping. Each floor has 5 cast iron pillars and several original iron tethering rings.


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Our home, THE HORSE HOSPITAL, is a unique Grade II listed not for profit, independent arts venue within the only existing unspoilt example of a two-floor, purpose-built stable with public access in London. 

Built in 1797 by James Burton. the shell is constructed with London Stocks whilst the interior features a mock cobbled re-inforced concrete floor and ramps with slats to prevent the horses from slipping. Each floor has 5 cast iron pillars and several original iron tethering rings.