Brutalism, an architectural movement
...Swedish architect in Sweden in 1950 with the building “The Unite d’ Habitation” at Marseille. In that building, he first employed beton brut – that is, concrete surfaces on which the marks of the rough wooden formwork are left exposed as an expression of the nature of material. After that, this architectural style was brought back to England and applied by like-mined architects. Finally, in 1954, the first Brutalist building designed by a couple of architects, Peter Smithson and his wife Alison in 1949 was completed. Peter Smithson was inspired by Mies Van de Rohe’s architectural form and were determined to preserve the best aspects of the heroic Modernism of Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe. Unique Qualities Basically, Brutalist buildings are anti-aesthetic, purely functional and economical It believes in honesty and openness. Its buildings were stripped of all pretense and ornaments, clearly exposing the services and the materials that made it. Brutalist buildings also have a look of weight and massiveness that immediately sets them apart from those of other predominantly rectangular, flat-roofed style. Windows are treated as holes in walls or as voids in the solid of the walls, and not (as in the International Style) as continuations of the “skin” of the building. In other words, windows are often recessions in the façade of the building. Indeed, Brutalists building have no skin; this might be described as a “flesh-and-bones architecture.” Concrete is the favorite material; it always left exposed as are brick and other material and often rough-surfaced, showing the marks of the wooden formwork; sometimes it is textured by hammer or other means. Structure, most often concrete frame, is also frankly exhibited – as, inside the building, the plumbing and other services may be too. Broad, quiet wall surfaces are interrupted by deep-shadowed penetrations of the building mass; vertical slots may contrast with broad oblong openings or tall openings with horizontal slots, while “egg-crate” effects are also much employed. Brutalism buildings have characteristics such as inexpensive construction and low cost as it usually makes use of raw concrete, which is cheap to manufacture. The buildings are blockish and geometrical and more often than not, repetitive in design. The textures of the buildings are viewed upon as rough and cold, as no ornamentation can be found on them. Therefore, Brutalist buildings are unpopular with the majority. Despite the fact that it is unfriendly and considered an eyesore due to its lack of aesthetical values, it is nonetheless, an inexpensive solut...