6/21/2019 This Is Why Brutalist Architecture Is More Important Now Than Ever Before | Architectural Digest

ARCHITECTURE

This Is Why Brutalist Architecture Is

More Important Now Than Ever Before
This major city has long viewed its concrete hulking masses with optimism and respect—and the world’s
taking note

By Tom Oliver Payne

Photography by Tom Oliver Payne
December 12, 2017

For decades brutalist architecture was a symbol of the underclass. Soulless, gray, crumbling concrete structures
were something to escape from. Today, however, brutalism is back in style. In an age where gentrification is a dirty

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word, these hulking masses represent an extraordinary period of incredible optimism and determination to use
architecture to transform society.   London treats its brutalist buildings with care and respect. With dozens of these
structures now heritage listed, it has become a haven for the concrete explorer. From the brazen, yet breathtaking
Trellick Tower, to Southbank’s sophisticated National Theatre, this is AD’s roundup of London’s five most
prominent brutalist buildings. Consider it a brutalist’s bucket list for those visiting London.

Trellick Tower

Starkly aggressive, Trellick comprises 32 stories of raw concrete. Once referred to as the world’s ugliest building,
today it is an icon of the brutalist movement—studied by architects, featured in photoshoots, and used as a backdrop
in films. Architect Ernő Goldfinger, whose surname was famously borrowed for the villain in the James Bond book
and film, was known for his austere modernist buildings and utopian dreams. Like many of Goldfinger’s buildings,

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Trellick aimed to provide modern, well-equipped, affordable flats for those who lost their homes in the Second
World War.

Centre Point

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Completed in 1966, Centre Point was one of London’s first skyscrapers. Stretching 34 stories above ground, this
brutal beehive of concrete and glass remains a dominant structure on the city’s skyline. Receiving a Grade II listed
heritage status in 1995, it was said by English Heritage to be “one of the most distinctive high-rise compositions of
the 1960s.” Currently at the final stages of its transformation from commercial to residential use, the building will
soon house some of London’s most desirable flats.

The Barbican Estate

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Completed in 1976, the Barbican offered a new vision for high-density mixed-use neighborhoods. Spanning nearly
35 acres, it is home to around 4,000 people, as well as the Museum of London, Guildhall School of Music and
Drama, and performing arts hub the Barbican Centre. Described by Queen Elizabeth as “one of the modern
wonders of the world,” the estate is one of London’s most recognized landmarks.

Brunswick Centre

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With elevated walkways, layered terraces, a dramatic central spine, and enormous ventilation towers, the
Brunswick Centre could be a setting for a science fiction film. Architect Patrick Hodgkinson’s vision for the
building was optimistic: a modern London village, with family homes, a cinema, and shops. The stepped terraces
were designed to open the shopping street to the sky and give each apartment maximum sunlight. The futuristic
appearance of Brunswick Centre, which was repaired and restored in 2006, continues to capture the eye of brutalist
admirers.

Royal National Theatre

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In 1988 Prince Charles described the National Theatre as being like "a nuclear power station.” Clearly not without
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its criticism, Denys Lasdun’s composition of horizontal and vertical concrete elements is bold and courageous.
Housing three auditoriums, the series of interconnected foyers and interlocking terraces is a striking feature on
London’s South Bank.

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