Brutalist

Brutalist

If any house style has experienced the scorn of a bad rap, it’s Brutalism. Known for its profusion of flat expanses of exposed concrete and monolithic forms, the Brutalist style was first defined by British historian and critic Reyner Banham in his 1955 essay “The New Brutalism” and has been criticized for its sometimes harsh and institutional expression. But according to Banham, the style is less about a brutal design expression and more about stripping down architecture to its most frank expression. Besides the unabashed embrace of exposed concrete, the Brutalist style is often defined by a clearly visible structure and honest expression of materials, which can be refreshing in the age of ‘more is more.’ “Recently, the term Brutalism has grown in use to describe modern, minimalist architecture that is austere but confident in its simplicity,” says Grant Kirkpatrick of KAA Design. KAA’s Duan Tran appreciates Brutalism for its directness and its commitment to authentic, honest material expression. “I’ve long admired Brutalism’s boldness in form and artistic integrity,” he explains. “Raw concrete, modular geometry, heavy monolithic forms, and the use of natural lighting are key elements of Brutalism and what continue to drive a strong following for me and so many others.”