Brutalism, worth saving?

[supersupper]

Actually the term comes the french word for rough concrete, "beton brut", and was coined by La Corbusier well after Art Brut emerged. It specifically denotes an unrefined, rugged appearance.

Oh those French and their funny words with so many meanings.

The term "beton brut" indeed refers to "rough concrete" as a technique relating to a material, but not all Brutalist buildings are made of concrete.


It all boils down the the term "Brut" and its various applications as a philosophy or guiding principal for an architect or artist.

[supersupper]

Regarding the title of the thread, Brutalist architecture is not without its fans.

The World Monument fund has a watch list of monuments at risk of being destroyed for one reason or another.

At least three buildings on that list are "British Brutalist" style builidings: - the Hayward Gallery, Birmingham City Library and Preston Bus Station

Preston Bus Station - once the largest bus station in the world - is scheduled to be pulled down as part of a redevelopment plan for the city centre. It is still in operation.




Birmingham Central Library, is the largest non-national library in Europe and still in use.



The Hayward Gallery




According to the fund, the buildings were all were designed "in what is commonly referred to as the brutalist style... characterised by bold geometries, the exposure of structural materials, and functional spatial design".

New on the list for 2012 is SouthBank Centre, London.


The Watch | World Monuments Fund

[supersupper]

everyone hates on symphony house but i don't mind it one bit. i think it looks kinda cool.

Just out of curiosity, is there a style these things belong to ? "être de mauvais goût" maybe ? I hereby invent the term "Goutism".

[Bob_Head]

Just out of curiosity, is there a style these things belong to ? "être de mauvais goût" maybe ?

École des Faux-Arts

[supersupper]

HAHAHA ! Thank you for playing BobHead !

[John Goodman]

Just out of curiosity, is there a style these things belong to ? "être de mauvais goût" maybe ? I hereby invent the term "Goutism".

call me crazy but i like both of those buildings better than anything kahn's done

[enyo]

call me crazy but i like both of those buildings better than anything kahn's done

Anything? I personally love the richness of Kahn's buildings. There's just so much more happening in some of his buildings than a dressed up box.

[DCnPhilly]

I remember in the 80s and 90s thinking that the "Very Brady" style was the most hideous thing around. Ten years ago, Danish Modern furniture was for eBay and hoarders, but now thanks to Mad Men and Pan Am it's hot ****. Much of the more graceful elements of mid-century design are already being re-appreciated, including the softer points of Brutalism.

[eldondre]

is this a prison? ruly an awful exterior

[Bob_Head]

Much of the more graceful elements of mid-century design are already being re-appreciated, including the softer points of Brutalism.

"The Softer Points of Brutalism" sounds like an S&M-themed, Cinemax original series.

[Titus]

is this a prison? ruly an awful exterior

Hey in my mind it's a beautiful prison!

[Titus]

"The Softer Points of Brutalism" sounds like an S&M-themed, Cinemax original series.

[DCnPhilly]

"The Softer Points of Brutalism" sounds like an S&M-themed, Cinemax original series.

That's pretty awesome.

[supersupper]

Renzo Piano's (who?) addition to Le Corbusier’s chapel of Notre Dame du Haut just opened.



He kept his addition a low profile to avoid messing with the Chapel.

Inside the Chapel (not that some of you heathen would even appreciate)

She said the sisters prayed eight times a day, five in the oratory and three in the chapel, navigating several steps and a grassy field, which isn’t easy for some of them. “But then when you are in the chapel,” Sister Brigitte added, “there is a warm atmosphere that helps you get inside yourself, whether you are Christian or not.”

The site has had many different chapels since the 4th century, yet the Nuns there have decided to add to this one.

[OffenseTaken]

10/10

École des Faux-Arts

[OffenseTaken]

There's a pretty important class connotation to brutalism as well, in that the lower orders have often been described, in English and in French (with the French root word) as "brutes."

This is significant because brutalism is steadfastly, aggressively democratic. Boards of Directors and their wives walk corridors that nearly indistinguishable from basements and loading docks, to which all maintenance workers and housekeepers are well accustomed.

I often think about what it is that bothers us about this school of design, since MCM is has enjoyed a tremendous vogue that began really in the 90's, but it hasn't carried over into a mass-market appreciation of Kahn or late Corb. There are objectively solid reasons at times, like the apparently greater concern for the appearance of functionality over function itself. But at its base, I think that brutalism pisses us off because it doesn't surround us with expensive, elegant materials; it doesn't satisfy our desire to feel superior to those people downstairs, working for us.

Oh those French and their funny words with so many meanings.

The term "beton brut" indeed refers to "rough concrete" as a technique relating to a material, but not all Brutalist buildings are made of concrete.


It all boils down the the term "Brut" and its various applications as a philosophy or guiding principal for an architect or artist.

[supersupper]

Interesting points. i often read of people praising the inside spaces of some of these buildings, and despising others.

The style really does seem to favor buildings that service large numbers of people and therefore need large areas of space thats durable. These buildings are certainly better than having even more Neo-classical revival buildings (which would cost an arm and a leg these days if they maintain standards of yore).


One issue about these buildings is that the charge is often made they aren't well maintained and sometime look bad for that reason. The Whitney still looks great.




And speaking of the Chapel and Whitney and Renzo Piano, Mr Piano must have a soft spot for Brutalist style architectural institutions:

Construction Update: Whitney Museum and High Line Headquarters | The High Line

[Naveen]

There are objectively solid reasons at times, like the apparently greater concern for the appearance of functionality over function itself. But at its base, I think that brutalism pisses us off because it doesn't surround us with expensive, elegant materials; it doesn't satisfy our desire to feel superior to those people downstairs, working for us.

Greater concern for the appearance of functionality over function itself, yes.

But you miss the other point: Brutalism is ugly, drab, and depressing. Objection to this has nothing to do with some id-based desire to feel superior to anyone.

[enyo]

is this a prison? ruly an awful exterior

One could say its a prison for the mind. haha. I'm not in love with the exterior either, but I appreciate what he was doing.
It's nice to see a church that breaks away from the traditional safe design that people come to expect.

I'd be willing to be most people wouldn't like these churches based on the exterior, but I love the interiors.
I think people rely too much on what they expect something should look, sound or taste like, without being objective.

[eldondre]

One could say its a prison for the mind. haha. I'm not in love with the exterior either, but I appreciate what he was doing.

I don't find it awful as the museum you posted earlier (the interiors are, in fact, stunning, but thsoe are two very different skillls..interior and exterior) and there's nothing wrong with emphasizing a view like that, even if he isn't antoni guadi.