Brutalism

E11042

Brutalism is an architectural style characterized by stark, geometric forms and extensive use of raw concrete, often conveying a monumental and utilitarian aesthetic.

Aliases (2)

Statements (59)
Predicate Object
instanceOf architectural style
modernist architecture movement
designGoal functional clarity
honest expression of materials
socially oriented architecture
emergedInDecade 1950s
emergedInPeriod mid-20th century
hasCharacteristic emphasis on mass and volume
expressed structural elements
minimal ornamentation
monumental aesthetic
repetitive modular elements
rough surface textures
stark geometric forms
use of raw exposed concrete
utilitarian aesthetic
hasEtymology derived from French term béton brut meaning raw concrete
hasGeographicSpread Asia
Europe
Latin America
North America
hasMaterial brick
glass
reinforced concrete
steel
hasNotableExample Barbican Estate in London
Boston City Hall
Geisel Library at UC San Diego
Habitat 67 in Montreal
National Theatre in London
Robin Hood Gardens in London
Trellick Tower in London
Unité d’Habitation in Marseille
Yale Art and Architecture Building
hasNotableProponent Alison Smithson
Denys Lasdun
Ernő Goldfinger
Kenzo Tange
Le Corbusier
Marcel Breuer
Paul Rudolph
Peter Smithson
hasPerception has been criticized as inhuman or oppressive
has been reappraised and appreciated by preservationists
often considered austere or harsh
isAssociatedWith cultural institutions
government buildings
post-war reconstruction
social housing
university campuses
urban renewal projects
isNamedAfter béton brut
relatedMovement New Brutalism
wasInfluencedBy International Style
Le Corbusier
Modernism
wasProminentIn 1950s
1960s
1970s


Please wait…