brutalist architecture, history of architecture

1. BRUTALISM
Presented by:
Muskan Batra
Bharati Survase

2. Introduction
• The term originates from the French
béton brut, or "raw concrete".
• Descended from modernism
• Architectural style that flourished
from the 1950s to the 1970s.
• Post-war architectural style.
• The early style was largely inspired
by the work of the architects Le
Corbusier and Mies Van der Rohe.
Geisel Library by San Diego

3. • Le Corbusier use the term brutalism to describe his own
work, which originally was coined by the British
architects Alison and Peter Smithson.
• The term eventually became part of the common
architectural lexicon when Reyner Banham used it in his
book, “New Brutalism”.
• Examples can be found across Europe, and in the US,
Australia, Israel, Japan, and Brazil and India.
• Key feature:
-Use of raw concrete
-Bold, confrontational and bulky buildings
-Reflects strength, functionality and power.

4. Characteristics:
Strong and bold shapes
Large blank walls
Unusual shapes
Massive forms
Largeness of scale , strong.

5. • Reinforced concrete structures.
• Off form concrete construction.
• Diagonal , sloping or strong curved elements
contrasting with horizontal and vertical members.
• Brutalist building
materials also include
brick, glass, steel.
• The exposure of the
building's functions —
ranging from their
structure and services
to their human

6. Examples
1. 2.

8. Downfall
• Peaking in 1970s, brutalism began
losing its position in popular
architecture at the turn of the same
decade, due to its functional
shortcomings, expensive
maintenance.
• Concrete building criticized due to
weathering effects in every weather
condition excluding the deserts.
-Water staining due to moisture
-Algae formation and discoloration
-People highly dissatisfied with the space and the boxtype bldgs.