The film The Brutalist, Directed by Brady Corbet and starring Adrian Brody, it has brought to the media attention a trend that, among the habitat sector, has had a prominent role resurgence in recent years. After the period japandi and the organic minimalism, It seemed logical that there would be an approach to this movement, which embraces aesthetic principles like.

Characteristics of brutalism

Derived from the French “béton brut” (raw concrete), the brutalism characterized by massive raw concrete structures, bold geometric shapes and a design that prioritizes functionality over decorative aesthetics. This architectural style emerged in the 50s, following the reconstruction of European cities after World War II. Being a type of construction of low cost and utilitarian, Brutalism made its appearance in the first social housing in the United Kingdom, and soon spread to other cities around the globe.

Brutalist designs were most frequently used in the construction of institutional buildings, such as universities, libraries, courts and town halls. The movement's popularity began to decline in the late 1970s, partly because it became associated with the architectural style of cities in the Soviet axis, very given to building prefabricated concrete houses and gigantic institutional buildings.

Also in his decline, the fact that he played against him 80s maximalism, where glass constructions, neon and multicolour emerged, characteristics situated at the antipodes of minimalism, often cold and devoid of emotion, and brutalism.

In recent years some precepts of the brutalism both in architecture and interior design, not only as an aesthetic question but also as an “ethical” and philosophical one, with the idea of ​​creating buildings and spaces simple, honest and functional that are suited to their purpose, inhabitants and location.

At the modern office design, We find interesting examples of this revived neo-brutalism of the 75st century, which complies with the principles established more than XNUMX years ago. The architects Walter Gropius, Mies Van der Rohe and Le Corbusier They were the precursors of brutalism that began with the rationalism of the school of Bauhaus.

University of Leeds. Roger Steves Building. 1970

The principle of materiality

Although materials such as brick, glass, steel, wood and stone, It is undoubtedly the use of raw concrete what defines the brutalist aesthetic, capable of expressing a structural honesty where form follows function.

Brutalism is not so much concerned with the material as such, but rather with the material quality and its inherent characteristics, which must be highlighted and fully exploited.

Northwestern University. Photo: Joss Broward

Challenging geometry is another key element of brutalist architecture. Buildings often exhibit solid geometric shapes, such as cubes, prisms and parallelepipeds, with accentuated angles and straight lines. This bold geometry contributes to the feeling of monumentality and robustness.

This is precisely another characteristic of brutalism, its taste for big scale. Many of the brutalist structures are institutional buildings, such as schools, hospitals, and government complexes, designed to communicate a sense of authority and permanence.

Le Brasilia, by Fernand Boukobza, in Marseille, a tribute to Le Corbusier inspired by the city of Brasilia.

In brutalism, structural and functional elements such as ducts and stairs They are often visible, thus demonstrating their usefulness without decorative pretensions.

The structures They often reveal how they are designed to serve a purpose. specific, whether through the arrangement of windows, exterior stairs or walkways.

The MET in New York, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1966, not only houses works of art, but the building itself is a unique work of art. Photo: Ezra Stoller

The surfaces textured and angular of brutalist interiors interact with light in dramatic ways. This creates plays of light and shadow that add depth and dimension to the space, giving it a unique visual quality.

Geisel Library, in La Jolla, San Diego (CA), a project by William Pereira from 1970. Photo: Erik Jepsen

Ethics versus aesthetics

As we mentioned above, brutalism is more than just an architectural style; it is a design philosophy that exalts the symmetry, volumes, raw material and functionality. As we explore new forms of sustainable and expressive construction, Brutalism continues to offer valuable lessons about beauty in the robustness and simplicity on the scale.

Torres Blanca Building, by Saenz de Oiza, an emblem of the Spanish capital, completed in 1968.

Brutalist structures are notable for their robustness and longevity. And concrete is an extremely resistant material, with excellent qualities. insulating and thermal.

Despite its austere appearance, Brutalist buildings have a great visual impact and their figure becomes an icon of the city. Although it has its detractors, there is currently a movement called #SOSBrutalism, which has a database of more than 2.000 brutalist buildings. This is a platform that is carrying out a major campaign to (as they say) “save our beloved concrete monsters.”

This renewed interest in recent decades has saved countless buildings that we can see today from demolition. This demonstrates the persistent Fascination and relevance of brutalism in contemporary architecture.