The Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier’s love of concrete translated into a building that was considered the birth of Brutalism. The Unité d’Habitation in Marseilles, built in France was his first project in 10 years, World War II having interrupted his practice and creating a need for mass produced architects. Completed in 1952 and created as housing for the working class people, Le Corbusier’s design called for a monolithic reinforced concrete framework fit with many modular apartments. The large mammoth complex, which could house up to 1,600 people, was largely devoid of decorative elements and then laid the framework for future Brutalist projects.

The word Brutalism in relation to architecture is believed to have been first coined by a Swedish architect by the name of Hans Asplund. He wanted to describe a square brick home called the Villa Göth in 1949. This was picked up by English architects in which the style was further honed by Alison and Peter Smithson. Together they are particularly known for East London’s council housing complex, Robin Hood Garden which was completed in 1972. It was built from precast concrete slabs and then built with the Smithsons’ ideals for utopic ideal living, it never quite lived up to its goals. In 2017 the eastern block was demolished as part of a refurbishment plan. But to show how far Brutalism has come, the V&A Museum acquired three stories of the demolished building.