BRUTALISM.pdf 77

architecture

1. BRUTALISM
Lecture 03
Environment and Culture 05

2. “Concrete”
Ifwearetosumupbrutalismwith
thesingleword. Brutalism is
indeed the celebration of Concrete
The term “Brutalism” is derived
from the word “Béton brut”
meaning Raw concrete

3. Brutalism is a utilitarian aesthetic
movement that shuns decoration in
favor of exposing and celebrating the
raw materials used to construct the
design. It largely had its heyday in the
architecture of the 1950s to 1970s
The story begins with destruction. In
the 1940s, WWII has just ended, and
many of the UK’s buildings lie
scattered on the streets in smoking
ruins.
The 1950s saw countries all over the
world facing challenges with
rebuilding war-torn cities effectively
on a limited budget.to provide
housing for the displaced and
government buildings to reestablish
order.
Theauthorities foundaneasy,quick
andreliablesolution tothecrisiswith
brutalistarchitecture

4. Many associates the beginning of
brutalism with Swiss-French architect
Le Corbusier.
As he is known for introducing
reinforced concrete a key material in
his architecture
In 1952, the famous housing project
“Unite d’ habitation” was completed
in Marseille. Which is a famous
housing project which laid the ground
work for future brutalist buildings

6. However, the actual visionaries who
articulated the idea of Brutalism were
English Architects Alison and Peter
Smithson
historian Rayner Banham’s review in
1955 of Alison and Peter Smithson’s
school at Hunstanton in Norfolk, with
its uncompromising approach to the
display of the steel and brick
structure and its services, that
established the movement.
This style soon became very popular
all over the world particularly in UK,
Eastern Europe, US, Canada, Israel,
Japan, Australia and communist
countries like USSR, Yugoslavia and
Czechoslovakia.
Scale became important and there
was an emphasis on mass,
characterized by large concrete
shapes, textured surfaces, and overt
display of service ducts and
ventilation towers.

7. Don’t let the name fool you, as there
is nothing actually “Brutal” about
Brutalism expect for its honesty
towards its form and material
Not all are fans of this style, the
general public is greatly divided on
how they feel about brutalism…but
proponents of the style embraces it
as an unpretentious, progressive
and egalitarian approach to
architecture.
For the most part Brutalism was a
prominent style for public buildings
and social housing.
Andwas designed for the best
intentions, it was meant for the
people

8. Concrete is the one of the Primary
and most common material used in
Brutalism
One of the reason for this is because,
concrete is readily available, easy to
use and fairly inexpensive. Hence,
becametheperfectmaterialfor
largescalerebuilding Projects.
Brutalist Architects viewed concrete
as a material with integrity and
unique expressiveness and was used
extensively while deliberately
exposing its textures

9. Philosophy
Began with the most notable causes,
to service all people but later was
dubbed as the opposite
Despite its popularity, brutalism could
ultimately never escape its
association with totalitarian regimes.
These heavy grey slabs were often
used to construct institutional
buildings, it made them feel even
more impenetrable, colorless and
imposing.
Media involving totalitarian themes
typically turn to brutalist set design,
as seen in the grey and angular
backdrops
In recent years, brutalism has seen a
revival in the unlikeliest of places:
digital interfaces.

10. Notable Features:
Rough surfaces
Use of varied or contrasting textures and
materials.
Massive forms
Creating a sense of mass, weight, and
scale.
Unusual shapes
Parts of the building can be
differentiated for dramatic effect.
Expression of structure
Creating a memorable and powerful
image.

11. Notable Features:
Monochromatic color schemes, often
black and white or grey
An emphasis on bare functionality,
devoid of decoration
Modular, repeated design elements,
Layered, articulated or extruded
pieces
Rectilinear edges, Unedited or as-is
design elements

13. ENDOFBRUTALISM
Brutalism died out in the late 1970’s
Part of it was due to the energy crisis.
Which knocked the wind of global
economy
TheseMonumentalurbanfortresses
werenolongerseenascommercially
viable
Some buildings were poorly built,
causing problems too soon after
completion of the building.
Deterioration of concrete the material
doesn’t age well
Some saw it was unwelcoming, bleak
and inhuman

14. However, in 1980s the style
paved the way for Structural
expressionism and
deconstructivism
Lately, brutalism has been
experiencing new appreciation
in recent years, new building are
popping up inspired by the raw
beauty of brutalism
Architects like Zaha Hadid have
taken inspiration from
brutalism. In her building in
Issam Fares Institute in Beirut.

15. Some see this truthfulness of
brutalism as hideous .inhuman and as
monstrosities being the greatest sin in
the history of architecture,
while some others consider them
landmarks with historical, cultural and
unpretentious, progressive and
egalitarian approach to architecture.
WHAT DO YOU THINK??

16. END