Beautiful or Terrible? - London's Brutalist Architecture
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- Brutalist architecture is eye-catching and divides people at the same time - beautiful or terrible? - that’s usually the question.
The "Brutalist London Map" gives an overview of 50 of these concrete giants, including the Trellick Tower, the Barbican and the National Theatre.
The map invites us to take a tour of the British capital's brutalist beauties. It was compiled by conservator Henrietta Billings. She accompanies us on a city walk to meet residents, passers-by and Brutalism fans - and hear their views on this unique architectural style.
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CREDITS
Report, Camera & Edit:
Robert Richter
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I think that part of the reason that brutalist architecture is so polarizing is because of what a lot of these buildings have turned into. Unfortunately, a lot of brutalist buildings have been poorly maintained over the years and just look really weathered and crappy today. Brutalist buildings also have a stigma in the UK of housing low income people. Therefore, a lot of people associate brutalist architecture with poverty and dilapidation.
I’d like to think this explains my disdain for brutalism. Growing up, there were many brutalist buildings in my city. Most of them look rather dilapidated, stagnant, and uninviting.
however you maintain it, concrete ages badly.
No, they went unmaintained because nobody wanted to maintain them. Nobody wanted to maintain them because they didn't look good in the first place.
That's because nobody else wants to live there. There is no demand. Because the architecture sucks.
Not particularly if you watch old documentaries about it the people they interviewed at the time hated it and said it looks cold, heartless and resembles a prison. I think some designs look nice but for most of the estates they look awful
I like when the brutalist architecture is contrasted with green spaces.
That was the civil movement which overthrew the architect authorities in the lovely 80s errr 90s Germany. greens beat the Fascists. Traditional Fascists are architects, lawyers, holding and insurance bankers. The contemporary Fascists are...Guess! Social welfare, whose lies about mental illnesses in order to kidnap children are now protected by the lawyers
Beautiful or Terrible? - London's Brutalist Architecture 1340pm 19.6.22 horrendous. they were gettin' rid of all these vile plebian living spaces. now they conserve preston bus station and destroy the rochdale brutalist construction - the latter being vastly superior. as for london... the south bank is used for aesthetic purpose. as is the barbican.. but they are vile pish ridden spaces... full of jazz and jewelry. and plebs weaving yoghurt. as for sheffield - that as deemed so bad they saved a few brutalist flats for private ownership ie: to utilize for those who dont pish in stairwells...
Now imagine people-friendly little hamlets filled with local historical and traditional architecture with locally sourced traditional and locally adapted materials, expertise and manpower in the middle of untouched, autochthone nature for native local communities and ethinicites.
@@user-jq6wf1xk5g Beautiful or Terrible? - London's Brutalist Architecture 1211pm 21.6.22 yeah, right... weaving their yoghurt and sexing their nubile maidens as they dance about plague ridden infested bog holes. sound familiar? the nightmare is allus at odds with the idyll. reads good on paper. in reality a terrible mess. your own wanderlust will attest to the fact that folk dont want to be imprisoned within the confines of another's dictates. simple, really... on a purely hypothetical and abstract plain i am willing to discuss such wonders. other than that - it's a big blank niet!!! ie: as soon as you entertain the first sentence on the page re: your autonomous collective the mob are rushing past the windows, buggering one another and farting and stinking up the place as they vie for heroic status re: the new revolutionary pantheon.... god-like geniuses need not apply..... have we gone pre-raph or bauhaus? the mob you demand to do your bidding are savages and allus will be...
@@JJONNYREPP The South bank and the Barbican are piss-ridden places? Have you ever... been there? None of what you wrote makes any sense
Most of these buildings have all the appeal of an overpass
for you ! if you understand concrete forming and concrete as a material it's amazing
I mean you do need an overpass dont ya !? Brutalism’s conception is the NEED not want, and they are appealing by their need.
I like every style of architecture. The variety is what makes cities cool.
I love Brutalism. It breaks my heart to see the masterpieces that they have demolished.
It is a big line between the brutalist buildings that look good and those who look like warship on land.
Lol 😂
Love Trellick Tower sm
John Portman! Hyatt Regency Center! Embarcadero Center!
What’s with the shaky images?? Stop it
Britain went through the same relationship phase with Victorian architecture ... couldn't demolish it fast enough at one point. Then came the regret.
Most of brutalist buildings are total eyesores... the Barbican is a notable exception
Nah, that's also ugly as sin. No idea how you're lying to yourself like this.
Terrible
Not my cup of tea
It says enough when they depict an dystopian future in films they often show Brutalist architecture.
So much better than the bland homogenous glass towers popping up today designed with no passion, detail or style
Both are equally bad.
I'd honestly prefer glass architecture over these insurmountably bad eyesores
@@doctoramelioration7971 🤢 eww no
@@fbyi2940 Why misplace your disgust on glass architecture instead of directing it where it objectively ought to be towards: Brutalist architecture?
I'm glad there are those who like this style, because I for one do not. I called it "bleak futurism". I find it dark, heavy and depressing.
But to each they're own .
I live in sight of Trellick , and worked on many high rise builds . The apartments are huge inside with far higher ceiling heights than other HR's , and the access riser being separate from the flats is super safe , there's nothing to burn .
good point I really like it
That's the thing with the big social housing projects back then. Some may say they're not much to look at but at least they were building hight quality affordable housing for the masses.
The flats are lovely and functional. Much better than a crappy terraced house, but that's because trellick was a unique monolithic building, built without regard to cost, not a system built panel HR
I think that if you were to research public opinion on brutalist architecture at least 70% would say it's ugly and needs to be knocked down asap.
That 70% are the same people who think they can win the lotto and that Trump and Johnson are good leaders... So yeah... Popularity and good ideas aren't mutually exclusive by any means...
I call it the "educated ugly" style. I love it even if i don't like it, it's important in history of architecture, and the fine detaling is never going to be done any more.
Classic experimental and conceptual "unquestionable" work of "experts" being sold to politicians as the "right path", "the future", "the next big thing", "the only solution" while having virtually no respect for local traditions, values and materials and cramping thousands in cheap apartment blocks to feed the industry.
I love the style (in theory) but I'm glad it was a fad and not a lasting design trend... Less is more if you ask me!
We can't afford it any more. Concrete and steel are too expensive.
2:50 basically she is saying unless you are conned by modern architecture “experts”, you will realise how ugly it is. Bold and innovative yes, but also ugly.
Is it beautiful or terrible? Let's only talk to people who adore it.
Beeing from ex Yugoslavia i love brutalism ,just tons off so Interesthing buildings ,i love to explore them
Hahahaha, same man! I from Belgrade, and I always like visiting this estatesnand hoods, with concrete buildings. That vibe and feeling is just so unique.
@@aleksandarvujanic7914Although I've never seen it in real life I think the Western City Gate Tower is amazing.
Preserve them.
....so we can use them as an example for architects as to what ought not to be done when designing buildings; therefore, we can prevent the likelihood of such ugly buildings ever resurfacing,
@@doctoramelioration7971 It's called a free market. Believe it or not, there are people that would live in them. Victorian architecture can be kind of depressing.
@@userxl41drn301
The people that would live in such monstrosities are either those who have no choice or are unbalanced.
Plus, regarding Victorian architecture, I don't recall me expressing any fondness for Victorian architecture either, but it's definitely superior to this diabolical Brutalist BS by a boundless degree.
The only Victorian architecture I'm really adverse to is the gothic variants of it.
I respect old buildings but people shouldnt be made to live in a museum to architectural mistakes.
they arent made do, people can choose where they live
@@circleinforthecube5170ever heard of social housing?
Brutalist buildings are terrible, but if you put some green stuff on them, it looks beautiful, it looks like a rock escarpment with plants. I really hate brutalism and I like brutalist buildings with green and life.
Some people associate brutalism with their nostalgia for 1960s "swinging London"...
When they demolish one of these buildings, what do they do with all the concrete rubble?
@James Matthews Since the energy consumption in production of concrete is very high, nowadays there are methods to actually recycle it.
Brutalism is the cilantro of architecture imo
Good one! 😂
We need more brutalism and less "beauty".
Yet Henrietta lives in a beautiful Georgian terrace townhouse considering she loves her brutalist tower block so much
yeah I'm sure brutalist architecture is amazing when you're a middle class white woman who doesn't have to live there lol
You must have missed the middle class white woman that lives in one of these buildings.
Oh Karen!
There are a lot of artists and designers from various backgrounds who do or would love to live in the more well-known ones. These places tend to work better with like-minded people who want to live there and create a community, a bit of money for upkeep and building pride also helps. The mistake is to think architecture itself can solve societal problems that exist, blame the UK government for not investing in people (just look at public spending on education).
I think for social housing (in the UK at least) it's better to go for a more traditional style with a lower density. I think high density tends to exacerbate any problems. In Berlin they have social housing that is what people here would consider a concrete bunker but (generally speaking from the example I saw) the people there really do make the most to turn it into a comfortable and inviting home.
Like the 4,000 middle class (and upper class) white people who live in the Barbican?
@@martinseiffarth6408 I bet you're a real hit at parties with personality... YUCK!
Hideous buildings, these eyesores should all be demolished!
Exactement!
Who are you to decide? There should be a public consensus on what gets knocked down.
Terrible
Eek
Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate in Camden is awesome!
Bring back victorian architecture!
Personally, Victorian architecture isn't as aesthetically pleasing as Byzantine architecture or other architectural aesthetics available.
Honestly, there should probably be a mix of architectural styles so that everyone is happy.
It's chaotic rawness is both appealing and appalling
Brutalism architecture should perdure in time, should be conserved
Why?
@@jEsUiSsYmPaThIqUe2.0 Because ugly, grotesque gothic architecture is still preserved for some crazy reason. It's history, that's all. Except brutalist architecture has the added bonus of actually being sturdy and functional.
@@userxl41drn301 One of the most beautiful styles like Gothic cannot be compared to brutalism, which only creates depressing cities.
Trellick tower is an amazing building. Beautifully designed and exceptionally well executed. Unfortunately the problems earlier on were due to council incompetence. Now the best flats sell for over £1m, but most are still social housing. The Barbican towers are even more expensive, the top floor triplexes go for over £4m
Barbicans kinda nice, trellick is a crime against all cities anywhere
I need to see more brutalism. Its just not enough. Some of the buildings here barely qualify for brutalist compared to Russian influences in eastern europe tho
Where are the capitals of brutalism, in your opinion?
The one thing from the old USSR that managed to take root in the west.
In the former USSR however, an anachronistic ornamental style was also very popular. In Berlin there are still many such buildings - We call it the "Zuckerbäckerstil" (Confectionary Style) 🍭
I believe it was the USSR thatwas inspired by British Brutalism
Funny, I thought that Britain, France, and Germany pioneered this style. Nope, I guess it was "dem Russkies" again.
Hideous buildings!!
Primary attraction of brutalist to developers is that they are MUCH CHEAPER TO BUILD
This is my own personal opinion, but i'd describe the Barbican as an awe-inducing place, the water and the greenery contrasted with the huge amounts of concrete make it striking and unique, Trellick tower though, is just plain ugly and depressing. When it comes to brutalism in the UK, there's way too much 'trellick tower' going on, and not enough 'Barbican'.
beautiful. it's nothing but a work of art. brutalism all the way.
There is no art. That's precisely what's wrong with it.
@@colejones6312 Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier would disagree.
personally, I don't like brutalism. It is just concrete rectangular building with glass. It feels dystopian, and a factory, not a house.
So you're (as well as the other 3+ people who liked your comment) a masochist who'd therefore enjoy the torturous scenario of living in a dystopian nightmare in which the population are subjugated by tasteless and malevolent tyrants who'd oppress the populous via forcing them all to be confined to these insurmountably awful-looking buildings?
You need a therapist, bro. Liking brutalist architecture goes beyond tastelessness; it's literally depravity.
@@samuel_avila Le Corbusier was an egomaniac who wanted a year zero that flowed from him. The very worst kind of typical 20th Century intellectual who would have been welcomed in a communist central planning committee and make society miserable. He overtly attacked every iota of beauty, tradition and naturalism because he preferred making machines to exist in than buildings for the community or homes to live in. He literally did not understand what beauty was, because he unironically thought that flat planes, squares and spheres were more natural than the fractal beauty of a lot of traditional architecture. That you're using him as an example of an expert on aesthetics shows that you've really drunk the koolaid. The man was very likely severely autistic who had little to no emotional intelligence or empathy and could not see things as the vast majority of humanity could. Hence why he thought unfinished concrete with the mould board marks still imprinted was his idea of ‘honesty to the materials’, whereas to a normal person that just screams animosity, crudeness and decay.
Chicago has wonderful brutalist bldgs worth visiting. Marina City, for one
LOVE IT 😁
These buildings she has listed definately need protection.
They look like buildings that you would see in 1970s communist Poland
you would never find this person living in a brutalist building
En effet, aujourd'hui, ces soit-disant "architectes indépendants" ne cherche que l'argent.
Je le pense vraiment, il faut quelqu'un qui puisse faire démolir ses blocs de bétons que ce soit en France ou en Angleterre😤
Facts 😂
I used to find them so ugly but now, the more quirky ones (like at Guildhall), I find them intriguing.
Brutalism buildings look so sturdy. I love the texture feeling of it. Strong.
exactly bro. Everyone in the comments wants a building shaped like something organic like boobs or a leaf, but a building was meant to look powerful and strong since you are trusting your life with its strength when you enter it.
@@davidanalyst671have you lived in a council block before?
I love brutalist buildings and there are many, many iconic ones around the globe. However there are too some hidious and very poorly designed ones that simply are an eye-sore. Fortunatly their numbers are few.
I would say the large majority of brutalist buildings are eyesores and need to be pulled down.
Aaaand that's exactly what subjective opinion is for@@harenterberge2632
In time it'll just be another low rent stack of shanty's. It's devoid of any warmth at all in a country that already lacks sun. It's modern in a bad way , it reflects every modern problem with not 1 benefit or solution. The u.k. is not Iran. It's cold , and this architecture is even colder. Not every new idea is a good idea , infact most new ideas are bad ideas simply because of it was that easy it would have been that way in the first place.
In my country there was a horrible architect called Oscar Niemeyer. Some beauty but zero functionality.
Most brutalist architecture is horrible looking… a big exception is, of course, the Barbican.
When I visited London the first time, my first stop was to The Barbicon. Brutalism when do right is truly amazing. It will start making a strong comeback soon. Everything goes in cycles. It will start making a presence again soon.
Why does the greyest city in the world have so many depressing buildings?
it's a shame that all the gentrification happening in london means removing all these historic and prominent brutalist buildings. I feel like a lot of councils take the easy route of destroying these buildings that people associate with low income and crime and replacing them with bright cladding and uninspiring glass monoliths rather than try to fix the root cause of crime and poverty in these areas
these buildings are ugly
disgusting
Écœurant, laids, ideux, moches ect.
J'ai vraiment de la peine pour les populations pauvres qui n'ont d'autres choix que de vivrent dans ce béton gris, sans vie et dans âme.
Some are good as they look like sculptures, but as housing or some other use they are depressing, they forget the environment and the relationship they should have with the city and the people.
For me, Brutalism now forms an historical part of the British (and many other) nation's landscapes. Large structures such as bridges, could also be seen as being Brutalist too. I personally appreciate their design as befitting a machine that is fit for its purpose which is the basis of its own form of "beauty". Take the Battersea Power Station for example. The landscape of that part of the Thames would be so much less characterful if that building had been demolished. I would even go as far as to say that the Egyptian Pyramids are "stylistically" an ancient type of Brutalism. They are huge, simplistic and overpower their surroundings. No-one is intending to demolish them.
Many (as seen in some of the other comments) see Brutalist architecture as "dystopian", that is of course, an opinion people are entitled to have. I would argue that the "Post Modernist" architecture that succeeded Brutalism is a far more confused style which degrades all the styles it pastiches. I (also) personally think that there are good examples of each period of architecture. Too many brutalist buildings have been demolished. Some, perhaps weren't really that remarkable, however, others were mistakenly demolished, now lost forever.
I have always regarded the National Theatre as a giant piece of urban "sculpture". The Barbican is a great example of an inner city "oasis of calm". The Trellick Tower is now a "beloved" landmark in the Ladbroke Grove district and has a "sister" in Tower Hamets, known as the "Balfron Tower", (although it is rarely mentioned), even though it looks almost identical, (albeit slightly smaller) than its West London "sibling".
I think to demolish every example of a particular style would be turning one's back on the rich and varied history of a nation.
Long live diversity.
How much for the apartment in the tower?
Brutalism is so ugly, you need an expert to convince you it's actually not. 😑
*C'est d'une laideur sans pareil. Les architectes qui ont conçu cette chose sont les créatures les plus égoïstes et insensés qui soient.*
Seems like a nice way to say, housing projects
I suspect most people who like brutalist estates haven’t had to live in one.
Ugly and horrible, really an enemy to life. Pull them all down, humankind really deserves better.
nah, its better than homogenous architecture
They used prison aesthetic but just gave it a fancy name.
It is dividing opinions that is for sure. There are those who understand it and those who don't.
Thank you for this video, more people need to know about those amazing buildings! Brutalism is ma favourite style in architecture and Barbican my beloved example of it :)
Are you telling me you think Barbican is more beautiful than Westminster or St. Paul Cathedral?
Mind you, I understand Brutalism can sometimes be accepted. However it is hard for me comprehend how it can be considered the most beautiful (seeing how the style itself is actually not perusing that goal at all).
You don’t actually say “beautiful”, so maybe favorite to you is not based on beauty?
@@leonardodavid2842Favorite means "my favourite", subjectively. In that case, I personally like this style most, I like such buildings, and they are beautiful to me. The Wesminster is beautiful, of course, but to me (subjectively) less interesting than the Barbican. Some people like gothic architecture, others medieval, and still others prefer modernism. And yet some others are completely unconcerned about architecture. Architecture, like any other field of art, depends on taste. I don't see a field to argue here, really :)
• Thank you for this video, more people need to know about those amazing buildings! *Brutalism is ma favourite style in architecture and Barbican my beloved example of it :)*
What?!
So you're a masochist who fetishizes the idea of being dominated and abused by a tyrannical and oppressive government which likes to oppress its population via ubiquitously building the most hideous-looking buildings imaginable and subjugating such population via forcing 'em all to be isolated around such insurmountably awful buildings?
You're crazy.
Only the depraved or masochists of the aforementioned masochistic fetish would like Brutalist architecture.
The answer is terrible
Yes there were ops in Uk.
I dont care...
just switch..
No architectural style can be defined as "ugly", we have to look at the context.
Except for those new structures across London, with paper thin walls lol. London looks dreadful with all those Apartment Blocks fling about. I rather live on an Estate any day, council controlled or not.
nah this is ugly lol
@@JordiumZ But it's not about the style itself, it's more about the implementation of said style
@@isaacxcii4289Dans tout les cas c'est MOCHE! Jamais de la vie je vis içi !🤢🤮
Loves the Barbican
Suggestion: the strange transitions between black and white and color are simply distracting. I really like brutalism, but the way this was filmed made it so incredibly irritating to watch that I only made it half way through before turning it off.
@David C Sorry David, it was not our intention to make you dizzy..🥴
Economics is too important to be left to economists alone, architecture is too important to be left to architects alone.
We need to understand the time it came to life. Brutalism came after 2 long wars, with turmoil and desteoyed cities. We needed to reconstruct or whole nations. Cheap and fast, we were in need of housing and places to work, not beautiful details and facades. And brutalism did exactly what it had to do.
I don't think it's pretty. Generally, it is not. But it's part of our history and it was a solution. There is no need to demolish it. It shows what we needed to do to get back on our feet.
It was a solution. A good one.
It's sad to see so much people unable to appreciate the beauty of it. Concrete and plants, hmmm, wonderful.
It wouldn’t be so terrible if they actually coloured the concrete and made it smoother. I think the reason people don’t like brutalism is because the buildings reminds you of a warzone.
@@MrReedling well it was admired by Soviet and Agolf Hiatler soo
terrible
knock it all down
And replace it with what? Those ugly glass dildos like in Abu Dhabi?
Beautiful!
The suburb of Helsinki called eastern Itä-Pasila was built in 1975. I love it and I hope whole city was like that. Parking lots underground. Parks in centers of 10 story buildings and light driving lanes in between
Is Itä-Pasila popular with most people in Helsinki?
@@dweuromaxx No and it is just one suburb. People don't care what architecture they have
It's looks like a Soviet city. I think it's terrible, be grateful Helsinki has a lovely downtown. But if you love these architecture, you should check Bucharest.
@@gyurbanvikrenc6595 Ima gonna skate in Bucharest brutalist ghetto
Artificial, fashionable, tasteless, uniform paradoxical elitist architecture with no respect for local values, traditions, culture, history, heritage, products, communities, ecosystems. Only interested in making a political/ideological statement while fitting a lot of people including economic migrants to feed industry and capitalism without caring for the well-being and local communities and values.
Architecture is for everyone, it shouldn’t be ‘difficult’ for anyone who doesn’t have a highly technical background in architecture.
There is a reason we don’t play slipknot in train stations..
I hope to experience the UK one day
There is tons off this sht in ex Yugoslavia
Love them or hate them I think they help make London a more interesting place and sadly most new construction is Primark quality with Prada prices.
People who think like this always are Londoners who have convinced themselves its fine because they HAVE to live with it. All of these buildings should be torn down and replaced with the older architectural styles of London.
@@iggyzeta9755Who are you to make such a decree? Those buildings are well used and appreciated in their current form as a cultural venue and a place of residence. You have reduced your argument to a question of architectural style or the equivalent of judging a book by it’s cover and that is a flimsy foundation to stand on.
@@f.remplakowski He's probably just one of those "All Hail Brittanica" chauvinists that thinks that everyone likes rundown, bland, outdated gothic architecture (albeit of a slightly browner shade than brutalist architecture).
Beautiful
Me have acordar a la residencial San Felipe de Lima, aunque me parece mas bonita.
It is inhumane, hostile and depressing and I cheer whenever one of these monsters is demolished.
*BASED!*
I have wet dreams about the day in which all of these awful, awful eyesores are removed.
I don't know why people back in the 60's in Britain deemed it appropriate to construct such needlessly ugly buildings and erect them on a near ubiquitous scale in this country but it's quite frankly infuriating.
you would rather work in a building shaped like something organic, like the gerkin in london, or a building shaped like boobs? when you grow up and learn about architecture, then we will listen to your opinions
@@davidanalyst671 i worked and studied in brutalist buildings and found it extremely depressing. What a strange idea that users of a building should study architecture. I also do not need to study design to decide if a chair is comfortable or a tool is practical. I think it should be the other way around. Architects should study the users of their buildings.
Regarding the gurkin. I do not know how it is inside, probably just run of the mill office building.
Me too hehe
They are works of art that should be preserved.
imagine if the whole city was built like that...
if would be the ugliest city in the world
so basically any city development in the soviet bloc during the 40's-90's and others such as the miljonprogrammet in sweden ?
Depression rates would skyrocket.
I'd call an armed demolition to utterly erase it out of existence.
🤮🤢🤢🤢🤮
I think brutalist is good in idea but bad in design
Brutalist Architecture, I love it, I love it, I love it!
These buildings are slowly becoming iconic, imagine how they will be seen 100 years from now.
Euh....Je ne suis pas vraiment d'accord😅
Some are good as they look like sculptures, but as housing or some other use they are depressing, they forget the environment and the relationship they should have with the city and the people.
It does look pretty decent in black and white however unfortunately i cannot adjust my eye filters yet 😂I for one think that some of them look ok but then the other just need to go they are disgusting and dull. We need more green, more colour, more trees not more concrete 😫 soon we gonna be like Peach Trees in Dredd
Its terrible
Do you think it should be knocked down? 😏
@@dweuromaxx yes
@@dweuromaxx and that emoji is associated with sussex but the sus is silent
I don’t think it should be knocked down, since that would be a waste. I think they they should smoothen out the concrete and color the building white and dark gray instead. That way it would actually look pretty modern.
@@dweuromaxx yes it should
NOT a fan! Aptly named!
Such eyesores.
*BASED!*
They're awful!
@@doctoramelioration7971 I keep seeing people use the word ‘based’ when I think they mean ‘biased’. What is meant here?
@@KatharineOsborne
It's a new internet phrase which basically means exactly or absolutely.
It's something you'd say to someone if he/she said something you agree with and wish to express such agreement.
I love Brutalist so much. The clean lines and utilitarian style never go old in my opinion.
You should move to Russia. It's all over there
When i first visited Barbican, i was immediately transported to my hometown Hong Kong as we have plenty of brutalist architecture, in university, social housing estates.
Howard Roark would approve. Ayn Rand still pisses off architects.
(:
Love it
Simply terrible ... designers for a dystopian sci-fi future couldn't come up with architecture that is more depressing, cold and inhuman. Whoever came up with that had issues ... and whoever signed off on all this getting actually built? Even worse or corrupt to the core.
Or maybe a society that had experienced up to two world wars and were in the middle of a cold war with the total human annihilation as a perspective? Seems actually pretty fitting for that time.
Yeah!
Who thinks they’re beautiful? It’s like they wanted to be “AesThETic” like artwork but forgot that PEOPLE would LIVE THERE, having their lives oriented around it, and they should have to circulate around this harsh, unfeeling architecture. The foliage and water near the area slightly alleviates that pressure, but the main root of the problem is still there.
I literally cannot stand buildings with this architectural design. This awful, awful 1960's brutalist BS. They're so relentlessly ugly and monstrous looking it's just insufferable and nauseating to have to witness them.
Thankfully, it appears as though the architecture throughout the UK is finally being ameliorated and modernised, causing these hideous monstrosities to finally be demolished.
Brutalism emerged at time of critical need for mass, affordable housing, as well as the need to clear urban slums. There is some logic behind it! :)