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Brutal Wales/Cymru Friwtalaidd
Simon Phipps
September Publishing, £30
WHEN you think of Wales, do you think of the imposing medieval fortresses of Conwy and Caernarfon built by Edward I to subdue those “mere Welshmen” who objected to his invasion of their land? Or perhaps the industrial scars of slate and slag and towering craggy mountains, shrouded in grey? These dramatic views are among the things that draw tourists from around the world to Cymru.
Also to be found, but not in any holiday brochures, are many barely noticed examples of postwar brutalist architecture, which you could argue have a similarly bold aesthetic, that remain largely unloved, neglected and endangered.
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