Massive, Expressive, Sculptural

Buildings designated brutalist in style were largely built in the 1960s and 1970s, exuding an aura of daring, uncompromising design today. It is the French term "brut,“ meaning raw or unrefined, that lent its name to this particular architectural phenomenon. Vilified for decades as the step-child of modernism, brutalist architecture is now enjoying an astonishing comeback as the latest discovery among digital trendsetters.

As well as fascinating users across social networks, brutalism is also inspiring contemporary architecture. Large-scale sculptural forms, coarsely finished materials and floor plans that defy convention merge with contemporary design to generate enthralling new creations. This book offers a sophisticated overview of post-war and contemporary brutalist buildings and of the relationship – in appearance and design, in the grand concepts and the smallest details – between brutalism today and its ancestors.

Past:

• Habitat 67 in Montréal, Canada (Moshe Safide, 1967)
• Orange County Government Center, USA (Paul Rudolph, 1971)
• Trinity Church in Vienna, Austria (Fritz Wotruba, 1976)

Present:

• Seashore Library in Beidaihe New District, China (Vector Architects, 2015)
• Konieczny's Ark Kraków, Poland (KWK Promes, 2016)
• The Guild in Jakarta, Indonesia (RAW Architecture, 2016)