Brutalism, love it or loath it, London is the spiritual heart of the architectural movement, so to celebrate the launch of its Atlas of Brutalist Architecture, a tome of a book mapping 878 Brutalist buildings by 798 architects in 102 countries, Phaidon organised a tour of the Brutalist masterpieces of London. So what is Brutalism?…
Category: Life
The Stories Behind London’s Lost Art Deco Icons
Since its world-premiere at the International Exhibition of Modern and Industrial Decorative Arts in France in 1925, Art Deco has permeated countless creative spheres: from fashion, jewellery, art, and especially architecture. During the late twenties to the early thirties, London quickly became a hotspot for Art Deco architecture. From the impressive news buildings on Fleet…
Dukes' White Truffle Martini
Let the choirs of archangels, angels, seraphim and cherubim (and all the others) cry forth “Hallelujah!”, for it is once again white truffle season, that time of year when we spend vast fortunes on an underground fungus that looks like a mummified testicle but, when thinly shaved, releases a transcendent and heavenly smell that takes…
Get to know London's Minimalist Tea Houses
Steeped in centuries of tradition, Japanese tea houses and culture have developed into a unique art form of ceremony, discipline, and eastern philosophy. Key to experiencing the art of tea is the work of Sen no Riky. A tea master born in 1522 who shunned the values of elaboration in favour of Wabi-sabi – a…
Who are the people behind London's most immersive experiences?
From daily commutes on the tube, to putting together PowerPoint decks, and eventually lugging our tired selves to another evening of “oh what dreadful weather we are having” banter that goes with an evening of work drinks, it’s of no surprise that Londoners long for a chance to just get away from it all. The…
A Guide to Soho
(This covers east of Wardour Street and south of Brewer Street.) Once synonymous with the sex industry (both gay and straight) and London’s nightlife, Soho has been smartening up over the years. This has seen the area clean up its act, but in the process concerns have been raised that it’s losing it’s character. As…