Brutal London: A Photographic Exploration of Post-War London

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In an interview with the Financial Times, Dr Jonathan Foyle, the chief executive of the World Monuments Fund Britain, provided interesting architectural context for Brutalist buildings: “They are very muscular and everything is perhaps bigger than it needs to be, and for that reason I feel that brutalism is a modern take on gothic architecture… Both were designed from the inside out – the purpose of the building and what happens inside is the important part – the outside is merely the envelope that wraps it up.” The intellectual failing was equally important. Architects are the most prone of all artists to pure reason because they deal with materials. They are invariably attracted, like engineers, to the ideal of humanity rather than the actuality of our chaotic species. Pure reason is a-human. As part of these measures only one reasonably-sized bag (no larger than 32cm L x 18cm W x 22cm H) per person may be taken inside our venues and all bags may be searched by a member of our team.

Brutal London : Construct Your Own Concrete Capital - by

One has to be pessimistic at so many levels. The reliance is likely to remain on a market that cannot deliver the subsidised mass solutions to the misery of homelessness and of young people not being able to start families (alongside yet more migrants making the problems worse).Brutalism is, of course, not to everyone's taste but its virtues are a functionality in and of itself and an authenticity in its presentation of materials. It solved major post-war social problems only to create new ones but the failures (as I shall argue) are failures of society rather than of the architecture. The brutalist Barbican Estate is located in the City of London Square Mile and we’d recommend you arrive via Barbican Tube station.

Brutal North: Post-War Modernist Architecture in the North of Brutal North: Post-War Modernist Architecture in the North of

Built in Croydon in the 1960s when the area was fast developing as a commuter belt for London city workers, the No 1 Croydon building still stands proud and has recently undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment programme.

Cut out and build your own Lauderdale Tower from Barbican Estate by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon. The kit includes an informative note on the building. The Grade I listed building overlooks leafy Regent’s Park and sits amidst the area’s palatial Regency architecture, somehow managing to be sympathetic to both whilst also standing out as a modernist masterpiece in its own right. The Standard

London | A Guide To Brutalism Brutalist Architecture London | A Guide To Brutalism

Opening with an informative history of the origins and philosophy of Brutalism, the book features 9 buildings to assemble: Alexandra Road Estate, Alton Estate, Aylesbury Estate, Ledbury Estate, National Theatre, Robin Hood Gardens, Barbican Estate, Balfron Tower and Space House.

Brutalism was meant to represent a new Britain; a fairer country built on equality and opportunity. But in little more than half a century, brutal Britain was being demolished At Brutal London we know that everyone has challenges and difficulties in their life but this is what makes us stronger. Very close to neighbouring London Brutalist building The Hayward Gallery, The Royal Festival Hall was built in the early 1950s as part of the Festival of Britain. Brutal Beauty champions Dubuffet’s rebellious philosophy. Railing against conventional ideas of beauty, he tried to capture the poetry of everyday life in a gritty, more authentic way. This is the first major survey of his work in the UK for 50 years, showcasing four decades of his career, from early portraits and fantastical statues, to butterfly assemblages and giant colourful canvases. Dubuffet endlessly experimented and was clear on his purpose: In fact, the avant-garde structure of the building was also meant to reflect the programme of events happening inside – creating a synergy between form and function that is reflected elsewhere in the building. For example, in the interior’s “classless-designed” bars and restaurants and the open foyer policy that allowed public access during opening hours. National Theatre

Brutal London: A Photographic Exploration of Post-War London

Though it might not be as well-known as Lasdun’s Brutalist masterpiece, The National Theatre, his design for the Royal College of Physicians is one you should see nonetheless.

Alongside his own work, the exhibition features works from his collection of Art Brut (a phrase he coined, which translates as ‘raw art’). Acquired throughout his life, these works, and the artists that created them, profoundly impacted his approach to the making and meaning of art. From hidden housing estates to concrete cultural centres, brutalism London is still very much visible in the capital. To get the best Brutalist architecture view of the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate in Camden, London, head to the east end of the estate and climb up the stairs by the boarded up shops to get views from the upper levels.