Aesthetic Exploration – Brutalism

Brutalism: A Raw and Powerful Aesthetic

Brutalism is an architectural and design aesthetic that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by raw concrete surfaces, rigid geometries, and a focus on material honesty. The term comes from the French béton brut, meaning “raw concrete,” and was popularized by British architects Alison and Peter Smithson in the 1950s. Rather than hiding the materials and structure behind polished facades, brutalist designs expose them, celebrating functionality and form. Brutalism grew out of the post-WWII reconstruction period, especially in Europe, where cities needed to rebuild quickly and affordably. The aesthetic responded to a need for efficient public housing and government buildings. It aimed to reflect modernist ideals with a sense of social purpose. I was drawn to this aesthetic while traveling to Boston this winter. There was a very brutalist building next to the hotel we were staying in, and it’s striking appearance, along with the very gloomy, rainy weather created a very captivating spectacle. The building is in the Cristian Science Plaza in downtown Boston, I’ll attach an image below for reference.

This image was a screenshot I took on google maps. The building looks a lot more “brutal” in poor weather conditions as opposed to the sunny day in this picture.

Key Figures and Landmarks

Some of the most notable Brutalist architects include:

• Le Corbusier – His work set the stage with projects like La Tourette Monastery and the Unité d’Habitation.

• Paul Rudolph – Known for the Yale Art and Architecture Building (1963), a complex interplay of rough textures and space.

• Alison and Peter Smithson – Their Robin Hood Gardens project (1972) in London was both praised and criticized, but became iconic.

• Marcel Breuer – Designed the Whitney Museum in New York (1966), now the Met Breuer, with distinctive cantilevered forms.

Visual Examples

1. Le Corbusier’s Unité d’Habitation, Marseille.
    

2. Boston City Hall, designed by Kallmann McKinnell & Knowles.
   

3. Yale A&A Building, by Paul Rudolph.
   

4. Barbican Estate, London.
   

The Legacy and Revival

By the late 1970s and 80s, brutalism fell out of favor. Critics viewed the buildings as cold, oppressive, and aesthetically unappealing. However, in recent years, there’s been a strong revival. Preservation efforts have sprung up to protect Brutalist buildings from demolition, while its visual language has reappeared in digital media, fashion, and product design. Web designers have adopted “Brutalist web design” to break from overly polished templates, creating raw, disruptive sites that mirror the physical aesthetic. The minimalist yet imposing nature of brutalism continues to inspire a new generation of creatives who see beauty in its boldness. That bold, unique style is what drew me to this aesthetic and why I wanted to write about it for my first blog post. I think brutalist style architecture creates a beautiful contrast with the world around it and I hope it continues to be an aesthetic used in media.

References

Yinjispace. (n.d.). Unité d’Habitation by Le Corbusier. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://www.yinjispace.com/photo/images/03-FR/Le%20Corbusier/04-Unite%20d%20Habitation/Unit-d-habitation-by-Le-Corbusier-01.jpg

ArchDaily. (n.d.). Unité d’Habitation by Le Corbusier [Photograph]. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5038/0443/28ba/0d59/9b00/092d/newsletter/stringio.jpg

Architects’ Journal. (n.d.). Yale Art and Architecture Building by Paul Rudolph [Photograph]. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://cdn.rt.emap.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2009/03/26212851/Rudolph-1.jpg

Inspiration Archive. (n.d.). Barbican Tower Terrace, 1960s Architecture [Photograph]. Retrieved May 7, 2025, from https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef76f29b595fe36e90e4ad4/fc9548cf-f999-4421-b76b-47c91e97103a/1-barbican-inspiration-tower-terrace-1960s-architecture.jpg