Atlas of Brutalist Architecture: Classic format

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In general, the use of concrete, the material which is the most energy-intensive, is no longer evaluated on aesthetic merits alone. Much-loved masterpieces in the UK and USA sit alongside lesser-known examples in Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond — 102 countries in all, proving that Brutalism was, and continues to be, a truly international architectural phenomenon. Although not a definitive catalogue of all the major Brutalist creations in the world, this vast tome certainly gives it a decent shot. Structural truth at all costs war their motto and all buildings which attempted to conceal the true nature of their construction, or to disguise the materials in which they were carried out, stood convicted of acting a lie. This one steps into the breach nicely and obliquely - it has a very useful gazetteer of buildings and housing estates and excellent photographs, but avoids both sociology and 'fuck yeah concrete' fetishism, preferring serious analysis of what Parisian Brutalism actually is in terms of structure, materials and urban form.

From Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, now a thriving public space, to the former landfill site transformed into Cairo’s Al-Azhar Park, to Bangkok’s Thammasat University Urban Farm, the largest organic rooftop farm in Asia, the forward-thinking green projects featured in this stunning book offer abundant glimpses of a greener future. Titled The Dualities of Brutalism, it clearly defines Brutalism as “a classic ‘late style,’ sitting somewhere between Modernism’s high point and its final unraveling in what became Postmodernism. A playful exploration of the socialist-era architecture erected in the former Polish People’s Republic. Zupagrafika are David Navarro and Martyna Sobecka, an independent publisher, author and graphic design studio, celebrating modernist and brutalist architecture, design and photography in a unique and playful way. From the Ural Mountains to the Arctic Circle, the book contains over 100 photographs exploring the post-war modernist microrayons of the Siberian cities of Novosibirsk, Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, Norilsk, Irkutsk and Yakutsk and the quotidian lives of their inhabitants.

There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. This open-minded approach from the outset bewitches the author’s genuine intention to give everyone a fair-minded depiction, to see these architects and their works with a fresh and unbiased eye. The Killara House is a magical place I not only visited but stayed at as a guest for extended periods of time. It is no wonder that the door, one of the most elemental architectural forms, has such metaphorical richness. In its thick, heavy, and appropriately dense weight, the Atlas not only covers the 'big names' of Brutalism, but also its lesser well-known members and more recent practices and places that have been inspired by it.

Published by PHAIDON and released this month the new book appears to be bold, substantial, and all in all, quite authoritative. Dr Robin Wilson is a critic, curator and associate professor of history and theory at the Bartlett School of Architecture. They tend to express sculptural qualities more due to their greater emancipation from their function than other buildings.Some typographical choices and occasional pictures of sub-par quality are minor annoyances that don’t sully the overall experience. For fans of Brutalism and Modernism, Plattenbau Berlin is both an engaging reconsideration of postwar urbanism, and a unique entry point for exploring Berlin’s history and architecture. Architects derive their inspiration from many diverse sources and precedents and that is the main message. The book looks at ingenious architectural solutions: impossibly skinny houses wedged into narrow plots, spacious homes built into neglected infill sites and comfortable homes created in tiny spaces.

With over 1000 photos and detailed texts, the book creates a vast timeline of the history and present of brutalist architecture. From the hand-carved stairs in Greek villages to free-floating catwalks, from the elegant processional steps of Renaissance Italy to Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterly manipulation of form, from the seemingly random placement of Japanese stepping stones to the staircase in Chareau’s Glass House, all provide very difference experiences of stepping from one level to the next, and all affect our experience of that space. He aptly cites Brutalism’s characteristics by Reyner Banham in his The New Brutalism article from December 9, 1955, in Architectural Review as, “1, Memorability as an Image; 2, Clear exhibition of Structure; and 3, Valuation of Materials ‘as found. He has published many reviews on art, architecture and landscape in the architectural press, and written extensively on representation and architecture in academic journals and books. The collection features buildings scattered around the arrondissements, as well as the infamous suburban banlieues.Vladimir Belogolovsky reviews Owen Hopkins's new book Brutalists: Brutalism’s Best Architects and finds it refreshing in its focus on architects and broad representation. How does the experience of turning a door handle, opening a door from one space to lead into another, affect us? These buildings feature in Phaidon's book, Atlas of Brutalist Architecture, a monumental record of more than 850 Brutalist buildings found in over 100 countries.

There is a brief introduction that provides come history of the style, and then there are about 800 different buildings catalogued, each with a blurb describing/documenting the building. A wonderful book which explodes the myth of Paris as a theme-park of the nineteenth century, this compelling compendium of Brutalism builds on Blue Crow's excellent architectural maps to give a wholly different and striking view of the city.Showcasing the transformative power of nature in today’s cities, Urban Oasis is a journey through the innovative and inspiring green city spaces rising around the world to meet the challenges of the climate crisis and social inequality. This landmark volume documents the movement as never before, by profiling the architects behind the style. In spite of some oversights here and there and shortcomings with some of the photographic angles etc this is essential reading for Brutalist fetishists and architecture enthusiasts alike.