BRUTALISM , BRUTALIST STYLE

1. brutalismbrutalism
SAURABH P. CHOUDHARY (F.Y.M. ARCH – JNEC)

2. brutalismH I S T O R Y
brutalist architecture flourished – 1950’s till 1970’s
descending from MODERNIST ARCHITECTURAL MOVEMENT
of early 20th Century
it gained momentum after WW II
economically depressed countries sought inexpensive
construction methods
later, many architects choose brutalism for large budget projects, y g g p j

3. brutalismH I S T O R Y
the term originates from french word for
“RAW” L C b i
UNITE D’HABITATION,
FRANCE“RAW” as Le Corbusier
described his choice of material –
FRANCE
“BETON BRUT” – raw concrete
later Reyner Banham gave the term
SECRETARIAT BUILDING,
CHANDIGARH
later Reyner Banham gave the term
“BRUTALISM” to this emerging style
the best work of brutalism was by Le Corbusier for
1952 – UNITE D’HABITATION, FRANCE &
1953 – SECRETARIAT BUILDING, CHANDIGARH

4. brutalismH I S T O R Y

5. brutalismC H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
strong bold shapes
reinforced concrete structures
large areas of blank wall
diagonal, sloping or strong
curved elements contrasting
Sunset Chapel, Acapulco
with horizontal & vertical members Court Building, Buffalo City De Rotterdam, Rotterdam
Habitat 67 in Montreal, Canada

6. brutalismC H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
formed with repeated modular elements
surfaces of cast concrete are made to
reveal basic nature of Constn.
li t t f d l k dreveling texture of wooden planks used
in-situ constn.
brutalist bldg. mat. also include BRICK,
GLASS, STEEL
exposed conc. ext. can be brutalist & can belong to
CONSTRUCTIVISM EXPRESSIONISM
Villa Göth
CONSTRUCTIVISM, EXPRESSIONISM,
POST MODERNISM, DECONSTRUCTIVISM

7. brutalismC H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
another theme is the exposure ofanother theme – is the exposure of
building structure & services
1962-BOSTON CITY HALL – projected portions of
bldg. indicate spcl. Nature of rooms.
HUNSTANTON SCHOOL – water tank is prominent
visible tower
brutalism-as an Arch. Philosophy was
associated SOCIALIST IDEOLOGY
BOSTON CITY HALL
associated SOCIALIST IDEOLOGY
in Czechoslovakia brutalism was
t d NATIONAL MODERNpresented as a NATIONAL – MODERN
SOCIALIST ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
HUNSTANTON
SCHOOL

8. brutalismF A M O U S A R C H I T E C T S

9. brutalismF A M O U S A R C H I T E C T S
1966–1972
is a Grade II listed buildingis a Grade II listed building.

10. brutalismB U I L D I N G S
Geisel Library, University of California, San Diego
Grand Central Water Tower, Johannesburg

11. brutalismB U I L D I N G S
Residential tower, Saint
Petersburg University of Massachusetts
Tehran City Theatre, Tehran

12. brutalismB U I L D I N G S
Trans World Airlines (TWA) Terminal, JFK
Airport, New York, New York, USA, 1962 by
Eero Saarinen and Associates
Art Museum, Colgate
Western City Gate, Belgrade,
Serbia

13. brutalismW H A T ’S W R O N G
fails horribly when neglected
quality of concrete-the way its cured, bldg. locationq y y g
crumbling, cracking & discoloring of concrete
effects appearance of buildingseffects appearance of buildings
cracks in concrete needs to be repaired urgently to
reduce reinforcement rusting
this is reoccurring work hence becomes expensive,
time consuming.
no one likes to live in crumbling bldg. which has become
BRUTALLY UGLY

14. brutalismT O D A Y
was dead by 1980’s giving way to STRUCTURAL
EXPRESSIONISM & DECONSTRUCTIVISIM
it’s experiencing an update in recent years, with
concrete façade being sandblasted to createconcrete façade being sandblasted to create
stone like surface
Pierresvives, Montpellier by Zaha Hadid Architects (2012)
these can also be noticed in renovations of
brutalist bldgs.
several brutalist bldgs. have been granted
LISTED STATUS
Casar de Cáceres Bus Station, Cáceres, Spain, 2003

15. brutalismC O N C L U S I O N
war – ravaged Britain wanted a solution that looked modern & forward thinking & that filled
with the excitement that followed the initial post-war depression
the undeniable honest approach to architecture that demanded form follow function &
avoided unnecessary decorations / flourishes
the brutalism approach was all about showing off the materials from which the bldg. wasthe brutalism approach was all about showing off the materials from which the bldg. was
made, about sharp angles, rough surfacing & exposed services
brutalist architecture was relatively short lived fashion but due to the large number ofbrutalist architecture was relatively short lived fashion but due to the large number of
building projects going on at the time of its peak leaves a lasting legacy

16. brutalismT H A N K Y O U
SAURABH P. CHOUDHARY (F.Y.M. ARCH – JNEC)