Brutalist architecture

"Brutalism" redirects here. For other uses, see Brutalism (disambiguation).

Brutalist architecture
Top row: Park Hill flats in Sheffield, England; Soviet-era housing in Talnakh, Russia; Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex in Caracas, Venezuela. Middle row: Royal National Theatre in London; Boston City Hall; Soviet-era housing in Saint Petersburg. Bottom row: Robarts Library in Toronto, Canada; Barbican Centre in the City of London; Alexandra Road Estate in London.
Years active1950s – early 1980s
LocationInternational

Brutalist architecture is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s in the United Kingdom, among the reconstruction projects of the post-war era.[1][2][3][4][5] Brutalist buildings are characterised by minimalist constructions that showcase the bare building materials and structural elements over decorative design.[6][7] The style commonly makes use of exposed, unpainted concrete or brick, angular geometric shapes and a predominantly monochrome colour palette;[7][8] other materials, such as steel, timber, and glass, are also featured.[9]

Descending from the modernist movement, brutalism is said to be a reaction against the nostalgia of architecture in the 1940s.[10] Derived from the Swedish phrase nybrutalism, the term "new brutalism" was first used by British architects Alison and Peter Smithson for their pioneering approach to design.[8][11][12] The style was further popularised in a 1955 essay by architectural critic Reyner Banham, who also associated the movement with the French phrases béton brut ("raw concrete") and art brut ("raw art").[13][14] The style, as developed by architects such as the Smithsons, Hungarian-born Ernő Goldfinger, and the British firm Chamberlin, Powell & Bon, was partly foreshadowed by the modernist work of other architects such as French-Swiss Le Corbusier, Estonian-American Louis Kahn, German-American Mies van der Rohe, and Finnish Alvar Aalto.[7][15]

In the United Kingdom, brutalism was featured in the design of utilitarian, low-cost social housing influenced by socialist principles and soon spread to other regions around the world, while being echoed by similar styles like in Eastern Europe.[16][6][7][17] Brutalist designs became most commonly used in the design of institutional buildings, such as provincial legislatures, public works projects, universities, libraries, courts, and city halls. The popularity of the movement began to decline in the late 1970s, with some associating the style with urban decay and totalitarianism.[7] Brutalism's popularity in socialist and communist nations owed to traditional styles being associated with bourgeoisie, whereas concrete emphasized equality.[18]

Brutalism has been polarising historically; specific buildings, as well as the movement as a whole, have drawn a range of criticism (often being described as "cold" or "soulless") but have also elicited support from architects and a small number of local communities (with many brutalist buildings having become official, if not popular, cultural icons, sometimes obtaining a protected status).[6]

  1. ^ "Reclaiming Polish Brutalism: Discover the Emblems of Communism". ArchDaily. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  2. ^ Larsson, Naomi (6 August 2023). "Socialist modernism: remembering the architecture of the eastern bloc". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Definition of BRUTALISM". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  4. ^ Bull, Alun (8 November 2013), What is Brutalism?, retrieved 10 October 2018
  5. ^ Đorđe, Alfirević & Simonović Alfirević, Sanja: Brutalism in Serbian Architecture: Style or Necessity? Facta Universitatis: Architecture and Civil Engineering (Niš), Vol. 15, No. 3 (2017), pp. 317–331.
  6. ^ a b c Hopkins, Owen (10 September 2014). "The Dezeen guide to Brutalist architecture". Dezeen. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e Editorial Staff. "Brutalist architecture – a retrospective". Architecture and Design. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Brutalist Architecture London | A Guide To Brutalism". 20 Bedford Way. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  9. ^ Harwood, Elain. "The concrete truth? Brutalism can be beautiful". BBC Arts. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  10. ^ Rasmus Wærn (2001). Guide till Sveriges Arkitektur : Byggnadskonst Under 1000 År. Stockholm: Arkitektur Förlag. ISBN 9789186050559.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference The NB p10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Snyder, Michael (15 August 2019). "The Unexpectedly Tropical History of Brutalism". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  15. ^ "A Movement in a Moment: Brutalism | Architecture | Agenda". Phaidon. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  16. ^ Andrei, Mihai (15 May 2022). "Brutalist architecture and its unusual, raw appeal". ZME Science. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  17. ^ Plitt, Amy (11 November 2019). "The history of Brutalist architecture in NYC affordable housing". Curbed NY. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  18. ^ Levanier, Johnny (30 June 2021). "Brutalism in design: its history and evolution in modern websites". 99designs.