On 20 September 2025, we celebrate European Heritage Days. This year, European Heritage Days focuses on ‘Architectural Heritage,’ celebrating Europe’s varied architecture and its cultural significance, while marking the 50th anniversary of the European Architectural Heritage Year in 1975.
This theme gives us an opportunity to highlight the life and work of Ernő Goldfinger, the Hungarian-born architect who left a significant mark on London’s skyline. Goldfinger’s bold Brutalist designs, including Trellick Tower and Balfron Tower, are still some of the city’s most talked-about post-war buildings.
After WWII, London faced a serious housing shortage, and architects like Goldfinger sought solutions that could provide numerous homes efficiently while also improving everyday life. His towers weren’t just housing - they included communal spaces and amenities designed to support residents, like launderettes, music rooms, and hobby rooms. Whether you admire or question Brutalism, these buildings reflect the social ambition and inventive thinking behind post-war designs. For those eager to explore this chapter of London’s architectural heritage, the London Brutalist Map is a great way to start discovering the city’s concrete icons.
Interestingly, Goldfinger even made it into literary history: British writer Ian Fleming, allegedly less than enthusiastic about him as a neighbour, gave the name ‘Goldfinger’ to one of James Bond’s most famous villains.
Architecture and its heritage also continue to inspire contemporary storytelling. The 2024 film The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet and starring Adrien Brody, explores the life of a Hungarian architect navigating post-war life in America, showing how personal history and architecture intertwine. This cinematic portrayal offers another perspective on how the built environment shapes identity, memory, and cultural heritage.
This year’s European Heritage Days are a chance to see how architecture shapes both our history and everyday life.
