Brutalist
Architecture

Like its contemporary the International Style, Brutalism passionately championed late 20th-century modernity: purity of form and a steadfastness to look only to the future. Brutalism took these principles even further, obsessing over idealized notions of utility. All ornamentation was strictly forbidden, and only pragmatic materials were allowed, namely the raw concrete (béton brut) that lent the style its name. To underscore honesty, building features usually hidden away – stairwells, walkways, elevator banks - were instead featured prominently. Today, Brutalist buildings stand as inspiration for post-apocalyptic films and stark reminders of how quickly utopian ideas can turn into dystopian realities.

Learn More
An illustration of a Brutalist building
Close up on the raw concrete of a Brutalist structure

Raw concrete

The French word for raw concrete lends the style its name, and also its "honest" quality by showcasing an untampered, unrefined raw material

The harsh design of the Met Breuer building in NYC

Harsh designs and roughness

The heavy use of concrete means the overall aesthetic of buildings is harsh and striking, with rough surfaces and little to no ornamentation

Blocky, cubic shapes on the Habitat 67 buildings in Montreal

Blocky, cubic shapes

Though curves are not prohibited, most buildings have their forms dictated by geometric, cubic shapes at right angles to each other

Repetitve modular forms on the NYU Silver Towers in NYC

Repetitve modular forms

In keeping with practicality, modular forms repeat with little variation, allowing for economies of scale in construction

Angular shapes at the bottom of the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building in Washington D.C

Hard angular shapes

When all the harsh pieces of concrete come together, they tend to form hard angular outlines and rigid shape; organic beauty is nowhere to be found here

Looking upwards at the imposing presence of 33 Thomas Street in NYC

Imposing presence

An abundance of concrete and minimal ornamentation lends an imposing quality to every structure, big or small

Rigid lines on the outside of Boston City Hall

Rigid lines

The majority of buildings in the stlye feature strong lines that lie straight or at defined angles, giving structures very rigid forms

The hulking form of the J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington, D.C

Fortress-like design

These buildings look as if they would be the only kind of structures able to withstand a nuclear war

The elevator shaft of the Trellick Tower in London

Exposed functions

In keeping with "show it as it is" honesty, stairwells, elevator banks, hallways and other building's features are easily identifiable from the outside

The Brutalist profile of the Armstrong Rubber Building in West Haven, CT

Asymmetry

Though shapes are repetitive and the overall look of a building is similar, there is no real emphasis on symmetry

The curving concrete forms of the Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago

Retro-futuristic feel

Some of the more complex buildings take on a shape reminiscent of what past thinkers may have thought of as futuristic

A dystopian image with Brutalist buildings

Dystopian aura

Though originally built with utopian visions for housing and civic structures like the Grands Ensembles in Paris, many buildings now embody dystopia

Gaping protrusions on 33 Thomas Street in NYC

Gaping protrusions

Windows and vents protrude from the surfaces of buildings like gaping concrete mouths

The airy interior of the Met Breuer in NYC

Surprisingly airy interiors

Not all buildings have this feature, but a surprising amount will house airy, cavernous interiors beyond those hulking concrete facades

The overhanging chunk of building on the Ministry of Justice building in London

Overhanging chunks

Seemingly against physics, huge chunks of concrete sometimes cantilever over their bulky bases