These pre-fab homes in York may soon be up for demolition to make way for modern housing. Built in 1975/76 the 100 buildings are known as ‘Discus Bungalows’. The wide structures are hard to photograph but I wanted to capture the unusual buildings before they are gone. I think they are lovely and particularly like the individual colours and open communal gardens.

• Discus Bungalow redevelopment takes a step closer from City of York Council
• Richard Heep’s Pre-fab Photos
• PREFABS: Factory homes for post-War England from English Heritage
• Palaces for the People: Prefabs in Post-war Britain the book that appears to be very hard to get hold of - I’m still trying.

My Grandparent’s moved their family to East Kilbride when my Grandfather got a job in the new town. They stayed there after retirement and I have happy memories of visiting them throughout the 1980s. Since becoming interested in architecture and design of the 50s and 60s the town has again caught my attention and more than ever I think it’s a very special place.

Thank you Anne at I like for letting us know that this month is East Kilbride’s 60th birthday.

I’ve just got back from working in Portugal. There wasn’t much time for sightseeing but, where I could, I photographed the tiles (Azulejo) that adorn the exteriors of many buildings. Azulejo was introduced to Portugal, via Spain, by the Moors in the 15th century. This tradition has continued and I was pleased to find modern tiles around the area of Tavira in the Algarve.

• Full set of images in my Portuguese Tiles set on Flickr
• Azulejos de Portugal group photos on Flickr
• The history of Azulejo from Wikipedia

The paper mill looked as though it hadn’t been touched since the last bell went. I had never appreciated how much work went into making paper, this was a huge operation. I really enjoyed the areas that gave you a glimpse of the people that worked there such as offices, lockers, mess rooms and canteens.

• Full set of images in my Abandoned Paper Mill set on Flickr

While sorting out my family’s photographs I put my Dad’s architecture pictures to one side. I recently took time to study them properly and was really excited by what I found.

My Dad studied architecture in Belfast 1964-67 and later in Leeds 1969-72 around the time the photographs were taken.

• Full set of My Dad’s Architecture Photos on Flickr
• England: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings on Amazon
• The Twentieth Century Society
• The Twentieth Century Society’s Risky Buildings
• East Kilbride Scotland’s First New Town (via I like)
• I Like’s East Kilbride Flickr set
• Wikipedia Brutal Architecture
• Flickr’s Brutalist Architecture group
• Flickr’s Concrete Architecture group
• Courtauld Institute of Art Art and Architecture website (via Sit down man, you’re and bloody tragedy)

I’m not sure what to call these cabins. I keep finding them on trips to the seaside. Most recently on the East Yorkshire Coast. View all cabin photos.

East Yorkshire Coast

Seaton Point, Northumberland

Belhaven, East Lothian

My parents are clearing out their house in preparation for retirement and a big move. I am trying hard not to transfer the piles of unwanted stuff to my flat. My Dad’s architecture books were too good to pass. I love the similar style of design - blocks of colour with transparent monocrome photography.

New year in the Yorkshire Dales exploring a derelict house just outside a small village on a quiet country lane. Nothing much remained apart from fixtures and fittings but they hinted at a once loved, colourful and fashionable interior. The last meter reading was taken in 1949.
Full set of derelict house images on Flickr.

More links

• Big Brown House’s Flickr set - Gilman, Colorado - July 2006
• Big Brown House’s Flickr set - Old house with wallpaper
• Robby Garbett’s Flickr set - Magickal Farm
• A whole other level of urban exploration - Tchorski in Mr Launay’s House