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 … Continue reading The orgins of Brutalism..

They say that trends are circular and the old becomes the new. This is fashion for music and art. In the case of architecture, there’s no style that exemplifies the principle better than brutalism. By the mid-20th century, this style rose up in popularity before reaching its peak during the mid-1970s, when it came spiralling down as a model of bad architecture. But this is all changing now … Continue reading Why is Brutalism making a comeback?

Brutalism is the techno of architecture, baron and menacing. Brutalist buildings are hard to maintain and to destroy. They can’t be remodeled easily or changed, so they stay the way the architect intended. The movement has come roaring back into style because permanence is very attractive in our cacophonous and crumbling world. Like the original, modest intentions of leftish-leaning midcentury-modern structures, which were meant for … Continue reading Brutalist Wonders of the World

It was not only technology—promising in the 1960s—that failed in the 1970s; it was in a sense the whole universe of Modernist promise and expectation One truly novel alternative to the hopelessness of the 1970s emerged in the latter years of the decade, when various stems of anti-Modernist ideas combined in a coherent post-modern worldview. Architecture, first but then also in philosophy and science. The … Continue reading The ’70s: Why Architects Today Are infatuated by Vintage Technologies

Brutalism, commonly known as Brutalist architecture, is a style that came to the forefront of society during the 1950s. It was inspired by early 20th century modernism.  It id characterized by massive, monolithic appearance with a rigid blocky  aesthetic and large use of in-situ concrete. The movement began to decline during the 1970’s, having been much criticised for being unfriendly and baron. The term ‘brutalism’ was created … Continue reading Brutalist Architecture

The 1960’s and 70’s in the US was full of socio-political activism, anti-war protests, Martin Luther King, Apollo 11 landing and the first gay liberation day to name a few. This surge for change was heard by the designers of the time who responded with radical ideas such as: eco domes to reduce pollution, walking cities, inflatable extensions that act as relaxing spaces and the … Continue reading How 70’s US Radical Architecture responded to the events of the time

Nixon was set to win the 1972 election when it was revealed that operatives under his command were found to be illegally undermining the competition. Nixon resigned in August of 1974, becoming one of the only American Presidents to step down in U.S. history. Continue reading 70s Nixon Scandal

The 70s saw mass protests against the Vietnam war, reflecting the mistrust in the American government. When the war ended in 1975, nearly 1.5 million casualties had been recorded. Continue reading 70s Political Strife

Many of the hit films of the 70s, Grease and Star Wars: A new hope, tell idealised stories – following traditional story-telling techniques – and often conclude in ways that are optimistic for the future. This tells us that escapism was a selling point, people enjoyed the stories that uplifted them, and didn’t force them to confront the declining economy and drastic social situations of … Continue reading 70s Storytelling reflects a desire for escapism

The 70s are often characterised by wide-cuffed trousers and bright colours, the individual mattered more, as reflected by the popular brutalist architecture of the time, acting as a canvas for the individual, allowing themselves to become an expression not overshadowed by the built environment. Continue reading 70s Brutalism as a canvas for the individual