>>13187862It's a French style of architecture (brutalism) that everyone copied in the 20th century. In the mid-20th century it became associated with the “anti-bourgeois” and “socially progressive.” And supporters of brutalist architecture saw them as bold monuments of egalitarianism and democracy. During the post war decades of the 1950s and 60s, there was a strong reaction among many designers, architects and the general public against both the overly ornamental styles of Beaux Art architecture, as well as the rigid, “glass-box” forms of the International Style. Many associated “shiny glass towers" with the wealthy, privileged elite. And to many progressive thinkers - Brutalism was the more honest, unpretentious and egalitarian approach to architecture.
For the most part, Brutalism was a favoured style of public or institutional buildings such as government facilities, libraries, universities, museums, and social housing. Concrete is a product that is relatively inexpensive, plentiful and accessible. The heavy and enclosed building envelope with limited glazing made it easier for climate control, thus making it economically sensible and practical for institutional use, which in turn also symbolized a degree of modesty and public accountability. Brutalists placed heavy emphasis on the exposure of structural materials and celebrated the internal functional use of the building. This approach may not seem unique to us today, but at the time it was a departure from previous styles. Many classical buildings are adorned with elaborate facades that have no connection to the building’s function, and the International Style of the 20s and 30s often aimed to conceal or deemphasize a building’s structure.
