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Brutalism


Indiana University Art Museum

Brutalism flourished as a movement during the 1960s and 1970s and was pioneered by the Swiss architechtural mastermind, Le Corbusier. The term originates from the French béton brut, or "raw concrete". It is applicable, as the style is characterized by exposed rough concrete and large blockish designs.

Brutalism has always been under fire as being an eyesore. Because the style is essentially that of poured concrete it tends to be inexpensive to build and maintain (but very difficult to modify). As such architects have used Brutalism as an architectural movement to construct unattractive and inexpensive buildings.


Trellic Tower in London