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Brutalist architecture - a retrospective

Architecture news & editorial desk

Powerful, imposing structures with an unpretentious and unapologetic aesthetic, yet

standing out for their bold individuality, brutalist buildings are difficult to fall in love with at
first sight.

So what is brutalist architecture?

An architectural style that was quite popular in mid 20th century from the 1950s up until
the 1980s, especially in civic projects and institutional buildings and in the form of

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sculpture-, brutalist architecture establishes the right of building materials and structural
features to be seen, admired and even celebrated.

It even found its way into inetrior design.

Featuring visually heavy edifices with geometric lines, solid concrete frames, exaggerated
slabs, double height ceilings, massive forbidding walls, exposed concrete and a
predominantly monochrome palette, brutalist buildings prioritised function over form, and
stripped-back minimalism over flashy design.

Interestingly, the term ‘brutalism’ has nothing to do with the cold, menacing aggro of this
architectural style; the word is derived from the French phrase, béton burt, meaning ‘raw
or unfinished concrete’. In fact, the negative perceptions around brutalist architecture
could be attributed to this word association – such buildings are often seen as unfriendly,
intimidating and even uninhabitable. Brutalism is considered one of the most divisive
among all architectural styles, thanks to the strong emotions it evokes amongst the design
community as well as the masses. (https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/city-
of-sydney-urges-urgent-protection-of-historic)

Robin Hood Gardens by English architects Alison and Peter Smithson 1972, London,
England. (Photo: Claudio Divizia via Shutterstock). Brutalism as a term was first applied in
1954 by these architects, referencing French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier’s design style.

Brutalism – the genesis

Post-Modernist in spirit and quite basic in form, brutalism eschews decorative elements.
This almost-monolithic architectural style represented a rejection of the eclectic and
hedonistic trends that came to be associated with contemporary design in the early 20th
Century.

The reconstruction in the post-war period, especially in Britain and Eastern European
countries such as Russia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, was majorly
influenced by socialist ideals, resulting in buildings that were utilitarian, austere and
soulless but low cost. Concrete was not only inexpensive, it also allowed speedy

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construction.

Thus began a new era of ‘socialist architecture’.

The genesis of the brutalist design movement can be credited to French-Swiss Modernist
architect Le Corbusier, who over a career spanning 50 years, designed several buildings
across the world and is known for pioneering reinforced concrete columns that could
support the weight of the building. Bare concrete columns, for instance, were a signature
aesthetic of his buildings.

Following the war, Corbusier was commissioned to design a social housing project for the
working class in Marseilles, France. Built in 1952 to house up to 1600 people in 337
apartments, the Unité d’Habitation represents the birth of brutalism – the building’s
massive reinforced concrete framework, modular apartments and absence of decorative
features kick-started a whole new architectural style that was embraced across the world
and remained popular for almost three decades. The Unité d’Habitation was declared a
UNESCO world heritage site in 2016.

Unité d’Habitation by Le Corbusier 1952 Marseilles, France

In many ways, Corbusier’s brutalism represented a reformist movement in building

architecture, in which structural elements were deliberately given prominence over

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decorative features.

In addition to Britain and the USA, examples of the fortress-like brutalist architecture can
be seen in most of East Europe (the former Soviet bloc), France, Italy and Germany as
well as Japan, China and India, especially in university campuses, council and city
buildings, public housing projects, museums, churches and schools.

For admirers of brutalism, London should be on the bucket list of destinations with
buildings such as Trellick Tower, Brunswick Centre, Royal National Theatre, Centre Point
and The Barbican Estate. Considered the brutalism capital of the world, London boasts of
more than 50 brutalist buildings. Closer home, the iconic but endangered Sirius Tower in
Sydney designed by Tao Gofers in a stacked box configuration is one of the more
prominent examples of brutalism in Australia.

Sydney’s Sirius building (Image: Creative Commons)

Sydney architect and brutalist expert Glenn Harper had identified more than 30 buildings
in 2017 including nine on the Sydney University’s Camperdown-Darlington
(https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/sydney-book-launch-celebrates-sirius-
the-city-s-em) campus. Three brutalist buildings in NSW have achieved heritage status:
the hand-built home of German emigre architects Hugh and Eva Buhrich in Castlecrag,
the family home of Harry and Penelope Seidler in Killara, and the former Torin Corporation
factory in Penrith. There are also others in Melbourne and Canberra.

The downfall

Peaking in New York City in the 1970s, brutalism began losing its position in popular
architecture at the turn of the same decade, with the downfall blamed not only on its
functional shortcomings, expensive maintenance and inability to remodel but also the way
this architectural style came to be perceived as a symbol of urban decay and
totalitarianism.

The grandeur of raw concrete was short-lived with the exposure causing visible damage to
these buildings, and turning them into ugly monstrosities that also affected the

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streetscape. Brutalist buildings lost their appeal in public imagination and the architecture
was derided as an example of bad taste.

The revival

Almost three decades later, brutalism is making a comeback in building design trends.
Interestingly, some of the reasons that led to the decline of this architecture style –
permanence, inflexibility and bulk – are being cited to support its revival.

Several brutalist buildings have been saved from demolition through public movements for
preservation – some have been added to national heritage lists while others have
achieved UNESCO heritage status. Many crumbling buildings that once proudly stood out
on the skyline, have given way to newer buildings but there are several that are
architectural landmarks and will, perhaps, remain standing thanks to their iconic status
and the efforts of conservation groups.

Many brutalist buildings are being transformed through extensive restructuring and
renovations to make them more habitable, current, and less of an eyesore. While some
have been turned into residential apartments, quite a few have been reborn as hotels and
arts complexes.

In terms of new construction, American rapper Kanye West’s Yeezy HQ designed with
Willo Perron adopts brutalism in its concrete walls and furnishings. Several homes are
also part of this resurgent design movement with architects revisiting the traditional
concepts of brutalist architecture to create amazingly warm and cheerful living spaces,
proving concrete can be beautiful too.

Social media has been playing an important role in the revival of brutalist architecture. An
Instagram search for #Brutalism turns up more than 500,000 images. Several books have
also been published on the subject, helping sustain popular interest.

Phaidon’s Atlas of Brutalist Architecture is a compendium of 878 buildings across 102

countries, featuring 20th Century masters such as Marcel Breuer, Lina Bo Bardi, Le
Corbusier, Carlo Scarpa, Ernö Goldfinger, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, Oscar
Niemeyer, and Paul Rudolph, as well as contemporary architects including Peter Zumthor,
Alvaro Siza, David Chipperfield, Diller and Scofidio, Herzog & de Meuron, Jean Nouvel,
and Zaha Hadid.

Rest assured, brutalist architecture is back in fashion again and here to stay instead of
being relegated to the footnotes of architectural history.

Famous brutalist buildings from around the world

1. Sirius Building, Sydney

Designed by Tao Gofers in 1979, Sirius is an iconic architectural landmark in Sydney

sitting on prime real estate in the Rocks Area, overlooking the harbour and offering
generous views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Plans to demolish the public housing

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building failed following outrage from the local community with the court judgement
agreeing with popular opinion.

2. Trellick Tower, London

Designed by architect Ernő Goldfinger, the 32-storey Trellick Tower was built in post-war
London to provide modern and affordable housing to people who had lost their homes in
WW2. The architect’s tyranny was quite well-known, inspiring Ian Fleming to name one of
his villains after him. Completed in 1972, the building – once considered the ugliest in the
world – received Grade II heritage status in 1998.

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Photo by Tom Oliver Payne

3. Centre Point, London

One of London’s earliest skyscrapers, Centre Point was designed by George Marsh of R.
Seifert and Partners architects as a concrete and glass structure rising 34 storeys above
ground. Completed in 1966 and Grade II listed in 1995, Centre Point is currently being
transformed into a residential building.

Photo by Tom Oliver Payne

4. Preston Bus Station, Lancashire, England

Completed in 1969 by Ove Arup and Partners to a brutalist design by Keith Ingham and
Charles Wilson of Building Design Partnership with E.H. Stazicker, the majestic Preston
Bus Station was all set for demolition six years ago before receiving a reprieve.

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Photo by Gareth Gardener

5. Kanye West’s Yeezy Studio, Calabasas, California

A design collaboration between rapper Kanye West and Willo Perron, the Yeezy Studio
sits inside a 1970s concrete office building at a tech business park. The brutalism theme is
expressed through concrete walls and polished concrete floors, monolithic bookshelves
and matching black worktables,

Photo by Nicholas Cope

6. Economist Plaza, London

Formerly the offices of The Economist Magazine for 52 years, Economist Plaza was
designed by Alison and Peter Smithson in the brutalist style and completed in 1964. The
complex comprises of three towers of varying height, arranged around a raised plaza. The
Grade II-listed building is currently being refurbished.

Photo by Grant Smith

7. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, San Francisco, California

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Designed by Pier Luigi Nervi and Pietro Belluschi in collaboration with local architects
John Michael Lee, Paul A. Ryan and Angus McSweeney, the cathedral was built in 1971.
The design process was as challenging as it was controversial with features such as
impressive cantilevers, a saddle roof segmented into hyperbolic paraboloids, and dramatic
interiors.

Photo by Connie Zhou/ OTTO

8. Boston City Hall, Boston

A building that has had its share of critics thanks to its brutalist architecture, the fortress-
like Boston City Hall was a design collaboration between Gerhard Kallmann, Noel
McKinnell and Edward Knowles, all admirers of Le Corbusier’s work. Constructed in 1968,
the concrete building completed 50 years in 2018, surviving its many detractors and
threats to demolish the structure.

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Photo by John Tlumacki/ The Boston Globe

9. Harry and Penelope Seidler Home, Killara, Sydney

Built in 1967 based on their own design, the family home sits comfortably on the bushland
site, accommodating four levels, all connected by a central half-flight of stairs. Featuring
exposed concrete, Tasmanian Oak ceilings, stone-and-basalt fireplace and built-in
furniture, this 1967 Wilkinson Award winning house is also listed on the NSW State
Heritage Register.

Photo by Brenton McGeachie

10. Geisel Library, La Jolla, California

The futuristic, almost alien design of the Geisel Library is the brainchild of architect William
L. Pereira, who has several memorable buildings to his name. Built in 1970, the library is
named in honour of La Jolla native, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and houses a vast collection of
Dr Seuss drawings, books, audio recordings and memorabilia.

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Photo by Erik Jepsen

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