Trellick Tower

Trellick Tower is a massive and intimidating concrete block in West London that can be seen from miles. It was built in the early 70s by architect Ernő Goldfinger, and is the absolute definition of Brutalist architecture.

They broke ground in 1968 and finished construction in 1972 - pretty quick really. The way they built it was a big deal at the time and a big part of why it looks the way it does. They used a method called in-situ cast concrete. Instead of using pre-made slabs, they built giant wooden moulds right on site, poured wet concrete into them, and let it set. When they took the wooden boards away, that rough, grainy texture was left behind on the concrete. That texture isn't an accident—it’s the direct imprint of the timber, and it’s called board-marked concrete. It’s a hallmark of Brutalism, and it gives Trellick Tower that sort of tactile, hand-made feel, even though it's a giant tower.

What makes it really stand out, though, is its shape. The main block of flats is separate from a skinny service tower that holds all the lifts and stairs. They’re connected by slender and slightly scary-looking walkways that stick out in mid-air every few floors. It gives the whole building a sci-fi silhouette. The service tower housed all the heavy machinery for mixing and pouring the concrete during construction.

Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore it. Back when it was built, it was supposed to be a modernist dream for community living, but it had a rough reputation for a while. These days, it’s a Grade II protected landmark and many appreciate its raw power. It’s not pretty in a traditional way, but it has a real dramatic, almost grim beauty to it. On a grey day, it looks like a fortress; when the sun hits it, you can see all the patterns in the concrete. It’s a proper London landmark, a real piece of architectural attitude.

Address: 5 Golborne Rd, London, W10 5PA, England.

Sky bridge photo by Graeme Maclean.

Street photo by Steve Cadman.