[Brutalist Architecture]
"Brutalism" is an architectural style that spread worldwide from the 1950s to the 1960s. Despite its rugged and powerful appearance, its essence lay in the thorough pursuit of low cost and absolute functionality.
Derived from modernism, brutalism is a term defined in 1953 by British architects Alison and Peter Smithson. It refers to an architectural style that eliminates ornamentation, highlighting raw exposed concrete finishes and revealing the structure and function directly through the building's form. The origin of the word brutalism stems precisely from the French expression "béton brut" (literally translated as "raw concrete"), used by Le Corbusier to describe the rough finish of concrete.
In the 1950s, following World War II, reconstruction demanded more affordable structures capable of supporting the lives of a greater number of people. Buildings relying primarily on concrete, a material easily procured in large quantities that allowed for short construction periods, helped the spread of brutalist architecture across the globe. Furthermore, by adopting unique structures that might appear bizarre at first glance, architects minimized the amount of concrete used, establishing structure and function with limited materials.
Capable of erecting large, functional spaces at a low cost, brutalist architecture was highly compatible with buildings supporting urban infrastructure and was widely used for city halls, public facilities, and transportation hubs. Representative examples of brutalist architecture in Japan include the "Tokyo Bunka Kaikan" and the former "Kyoto Kaikan" (now ROHM Theatre Kyoto) designed by Kunio Maekawa, as well as the "Yoyogi National Gymnasium" and the "Kagawa Prefectural Government Office" designed by Kenzo Tange.
Although brutalist architecture was born and flourished amid a movement seeking a return to the roots of functionalism inherent in modernism, it eventually came to be perceived as oppressive, cold, and decayed, leading to its replacement by postmodernism and its decline in the 1970s. However, in recent years, thanks in part to the internet and social media, brutalist architecture has come to light once more, and a movement toward re-evaluation is gaining momentum.
After the war, brutalist architecture aimed to be "architecture for everyone," intending to distribute facilities and housing to ordinary citizens rather than a wealthy few. The clear designs with emphasized horizontal lines symbolize the idea that everyone is equal. Having gained empathy and expanded across borders, Japan is globally recognized for housing numerous masterpieces of brutalist architecture. Please take a look at the brutalist architecture around you.
Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2MLprPvGNjb2VM7UA
ROHM Theatre Kyoto
https://maps.app.goo.gl/c39cKnC7KSmmwWhYA
Yoyogi National Gymnasium
https://maps.app.goo.gl/atRVV9XLgVKCE7Ne7
Kagawa Prefectural Government Office
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BvpbsGfkq8vujwaf9
Showroom Information
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/
References
https://www.modernliving.jp/architecture-design/architecture/a70397921/brutalism-architecture-2602/
https://casabrutus.com/categories/architecture/359094
https://artscape.jp/artword/6704/
