A Controversial Interior Design Trend for 2023? Brutalism

Table Of Content

• What movements have been influenced by or have influenced Brutalist architecture?
• Boston City Hall by Kallmann McKinnell & Knowles. 1968, Boston, MA
• Take a look at some of the world's finest examples of Brutalist architecture.
• London, England
• Defining Designers: Ones to Watch in 2024
• Famous Examples of Brutalist Design

It was finished up in 1972 and has been a top sight for people all over the globe ever since. The power of Goldfinger's work speaks through this highrise building, making it one of the world's finest examples of Brutalist architecture. Peter Womersley, a well-known architect, left his mark in the Scottish Borders. Explore the iconic creations of Brutalist Architecture, stamped by architects like Denys Lasdun and Basil Spence. This section delves into renowned monuments such as London's National Theatre and University of Sussex, presenting a vivid portrayal of this distinct architectural style.

The 24 Most Beautiful Brutalist Buildings in the World - Architectural Digest

The 24 Most Beautiful Brutalist Buildings in the World.

Posted: Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

What movements have been influenced by or have influenced Brutalist architecture?

Upgrading electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems within idiosyncratic superstructures represents an engineering challenge requiring customized solutions. Routine maintenance also tends to be more complex and costly due to accessibility issues. Thirdly, brutalist buildings were often designed with specific functions in mind, like civic governance or university needs. Adapting outdated brutalist structures to modern uses can require substantial interior and exterior alterations at great expense. Lastly, as concrete-heavy forms fell out of favor, many brutalist buildings failed to attract investment and declined. The devastation of World War II was a significant influence, as there was an urgent need for inexpensive reconstruction and housing in Europe’s cities after the war.

Boston City Hall by Kallmann McKinnell & Knowles. 1968, Boston, MA

Sent every Thursday and featuring a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Debaixo do Bloco's design for this sculptural house in Brazil is divided into three sections to provide a clear distinction between the various programmes. Colourful details such as a turquoise table and baby-blue spiral staircase and a playful, sculptural lamp make the home feel contemporary, while plenty of green plants give more life to the otherwise grey interior. Unveil the legacy and evolution of Ceramics and Stoneware, from ancient traditions to modern creativity.

Take a look at some of the world's finest examples of Brutalist architecture.

This strong design, like much Brutalist architecture, is an update on the famed architectural modernist concept that style should follow functionality. The concrete for half of the construction was prefabricated in steel molds and utilized a deeper cement, while the remainder was cast on-site in wood beams. Moshe Safdie grew up in Israel before relocating to Canada as a youngster with his family. Safdie created his design for Expo 67, a World’s Fair held during the centennial year of Canada’s creation in 1867, based on concepts from his thesis at university. Brutalist architects in the United Kingdom, such as Peter and Alison Smithson, were familiar with Jean Dubuffet, the principal proponent of Art Brut, and strove to mimic his basic, visceral style in their projects. Here are our top choices for buildings that represent the best of Brutalist design and Brutalist interior design.

Renowned for his innovative tubular steel furniture inspired by the shape of bicycle handlebars, he went on to adapt his sense of sculptural form to architecture. His architectural style went through several phrases before he developed his final, Brutalist-inspired approach. Brutalism is a movement in modern architecture that emerged after the Second World War.

Concepts and Styles

Here are a few examples of brutalist architecture used with interior design. “Brutalist” is an adjective used to describe an architectural style characterized by the use of raw concrete, exposed construction elements, and a sense of monumentality. Contemporary furniture and decor pieces are often used to add a modern touch to brutalist interiors, while still maintaining the raw and industrial aesthetic of the style. Completed in 1972, Trellick Tower is a 31-story residential tower located in West London.

Paul Rudolph was regarded as America’s foremost Brutalist architect, and his philosophy and work as a Yale architecture professor impacted succeeding architects. The focus on brutal materiality that marked the Art Brut movement probably influenced Brutalism. Team 10 remained significant in the subsequent decades, both in the global rise of New Brutalism and in the establishment of Structuralism, a style founded by architects Jacob Bakema and Aldo van Eyck. The organization identified itself as “a modest intimate group of architects who have found each other because each has discovered the assistance of the others important to the growth and comprehension of their own particular work”.

Famous Examples of Brutalist Design

The duplication of the elemental, geometric shape creates a sense of oneness, but the random arrangement communicates a sense of dynamic energy. Residents may pick from twenty-three various apartment layouts, while Le Corbusier also planned the inside furniture, leaving the homeowner to choose just the interior color. The structure is devoid of ornamentation save for the roof’s ventilation shafts, which were designed to imitate the smokestacks of an ocean liner, a design that Le Corbusier appreciated. The structure elevated Le Corbusier to the position of a premier French architect of the 1950s, earning him the title of Commander of the Légion d’Honneur in 1952. Brutalist design became the form of choice for many of these buildings due to the size of its designs and concentration on low-cost construction materials, with mixed outcomes for its critical and popular fortunes.

The trend was picked up by English architects where the style was further honed by Alison and Peter Smithson. Together they are particularly known for East London's Robin Hood Gardens council housing complex. Completed in 1972, it was built from precast concrete slabs and though built with the Smithsons' ideals for ideal living, it never quite lived up to its goals.

As a result, it was the architect’s first official commission when Raoul Dautry consented to move through with Corbusier’s design for standard-sized dwelling units to be built in war-torn Marseille. He subsequently claimed that his design was influenced by a 1907 trip to the Florence Charterhouse monastery in Italy, where he learned that uniformity leads to perfection and that a man’s whole life is dedicated to making the home the family’s temple. Because each module ran the length of the structure, each unit had a view and a patio on both ends. Brazil was a hotbed of Brutalist activity, much as it had been for breakthroughs in Concrete and Constructivist Art after WWII.

Other materials like brick, glass, steel, and stone are also found in brutalist designs. Fundamental design principles include exposing elemental building materials, expressing architectural function through exterior forms, and creating monumental, imposing shapes. These principles synthesize modernist ethics with historical and cultural contexts. Brutalism originated as a mid-century style, and architects today are incorporating its ideas in new ways.

With brutalism entering the digital sphere, its visual characteristics are now more distinctly articulated through typography and color choices, expanding its reach to all manner of design applications. Let’s take a look at the variety of ways designers continue to interpret brutalism to this day. In complete contrast, Samuel Ross’s Terminal 02 captured the imagination for its ginormous scale as well as turning the surrealist lens on the humble toilet. Working with bathroom brand Kohler, the cutting-edge London artist and designer constructed a maze-like brutalist installation at Palazzo del Senato featuring a giant orange lavatory and twisting industrial pipes to mark the launch of his first product, Formation 02.

The other cool thing about this bathroom is that the concrete is not polished. Most of it is unfinished, and the walls get their texture from the forms when the cement was poured, and some of it appears to be a brushed finish for the ridged effect. Strategically placed lighting fixtures are used to highlight the raw textures and shapes of the space, creating a dramatic effect and enhancing the overall atmosphere.

Like so many design styles before it, brutalism has continued to evolve from its original form. And no matter how many forms it takes, we’re refreshed to see that the style’s buried beauty hasn’t been lost. Completed in 1970 and formerly known as the Prielli Building, the now Hotel Marcel was designed by Marcel Breuer.

They won an architectural competition in 1949 for their design of the Hunstanton Secondary Modern School (1954) in Norfolk, which was later regarded as an example of Brutalist architecture. Reyner Banham termed Brutalism “Britain’s first local art movement” in a 1951 essay, claiming that the phrase started with Le Corbusier’s support of raw concrete and Art Brut. Even though it tries to be the opposite, Brutalism has close ties with modernism since they both focus on "honesty" through the natural appearance of shapes. But, when Brutalism emerged, it was supposed to be a contrast to the more embellished modernist aesthetic by being more subdued, elevating functionality over ornamental construction, and keeping this purpose at the heart of its philosophy. Some buildings use a conglomerate of shapes to form a truly abstract design that's still functional at heart.