The Pantheon of Energy : mythology and symbolism in Chernobyl

“Borrowed time and borrowed world and borrowed eyes with which to sorrow it.” Cormac McCarthy, The Road There were no other cars but ours on the long, abandoned motorway to Pripyat. The last living souls we’d seen were the last chance saloon keepers and armed guards at the Exclusion Zone Border about 15 miles ago.… Read More

3 hours in Kyiv : rushing through the Ukrainian capital’s complex architecture in wintertime

Be a Socialist Modernism, Brutalism, and World War 2 history fanboy like I am. Be in Kyiv during wintertime, and with only 3 hours to spare. What would you do, and where would you even begin? Read More

Brutalist Initiation : a Resident Access experience at the Barbican Estate

Until recently, I was among those who believed they’d seen it all – and if you are too, please read on : This is one for the initiated, and might pleasantly surprise yet. Read More

You haven’t been to London yet

I have been asked recently to reveal my top 5 places someone should be visiting in London in 2018. London is not just about the Big Ben (whose tower will be wrapped in scaffolding for another 3 years) or the Tower of London (I make some allowances, though, for those who like ravens), or even… Read More

The Walking City : How Futurism and Cold War paranoia inspired London’s most visionary architects

“…emerging through a cloud of fumes, the Hayward Gallery rose up on its giant insect-like legs, dust and debris crumbling around it, water from the severed pipes and electric cables crackling in the darkness below. Then a primal roar sounded from the building’s massive ventilation shafts, the sound of a concrete and steel beast, rising… Read More