Why did the style of Brutalism happen?
It derives from ‘Béton brut’ (raw concrete) and was first associated in architecture with Le Corbusier, who designed the Cite Radieuse in Marseilles in the late-1940s. Brutalism became a popular style throughout the 1960s as the austerity of the 1950s gave way to dynamism and self-confidence.
Is brutalist architecture communist?
This style had a strong position in the architecture of European communist countries from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s (Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, USSR, Yugoslavia). In Czechoslovakia, Brutalism was presented as an attempt to create a “national” but also “modern socialist” architectural style.
What does brutalist architecture represent?
Brutalism is a style with an emphasis on materials, textures and construction, producing highly expressive forms.
Where is brutalist architecture popular?
Descended from modernism in the post-war years, brutalism rose to popularity from the 1950s, largely thanks to Le Corbusier, lasting until the early 1980s. Besides Europe, examples can found across the United States, Australia, Israel, Japan and Brazil.
Why did Brutalist architecture become popular?
Brutalism emerged at a time of urgent need for large-scale, affordable residential architecture. Europe’s major cities were heavily bomb-damaged, while the need to clear urban slums, and a widespread desire to improve the lot of the common citizen, inspired largescale rehousing projects across much of the continent.
When did Brutalism become a popular architectural style?
1950s
The brutalist movement was popular from the 1950s to the mid-’70s and most often institutionally commissioned—many brutalist structures are schools, churches, public housing, and government buildings.
Why do architects love brutalism?
Perhaps no other architectural style elicits the emotional reaction that brutalism does. Brutalist architecture looks heavy and immovable but is artistically sculptural giving it unique qualities that rely on depth to create patterns and compositions with light and shadows.
What are the common features of Brutalism?
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.
What is Brutalist fashion?
Brutalism is an architectural style characterized by a deliberate plainness, crudity, and transparency that can often be interpreted as austere and menacing. It emerged in the mid-20th century and gained popularity in the late 1950s and 1960s.