DBWI: Have brutalism become a main architectural style

Peppe

During the 1950s, the architectural idea of "brutalism", with a focus on utilitarian and minimalist buildings that showcased the bare materials of the construction and visible structural elements instead of decorative designs, became something of a fad in the West before fading into obscurity with the revival of the pre-war styles in the 1960s and 70s (although it did become a main style for China and the Soviet Bloc up to the 80s, before the rise of the neoclassical oriental and the soviet futurism).

Many criticized the brutalist style due to considering it overly simplistic, souless, totalitarian and, quite simply, ugly, and some of the main buildings that follow the style have been called more than once eyesores (in special after some time, since the buildings that remain don't tend to do look well after years affected by the elements), but what if the style took hold? How changed would be the cities of the second half of the 20th century?
 
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overoceans

OOC...

As "brutalism" is often subject to overly wide interpretation, and used to mean something like "drab modernism", I recommend the tumblr "Fuck yeah brutalism" to get a concrete idea of what it's all about.

Also, wiki probably has a good written definition.
 

overoceans

If this can prevent Boston City Hall from being blighted with gaudy fountains and prancing cherubs, it won't be an entirely bad thing
 

CountDVB

overoceans said:
If this can prevent Boston City Hall from being blighted with gaudy fountains and prancing cherubs, it won't be an entirely bad thing
Click to expand...
Speak for yourself. I’ve studied a bit of the brutalism in art class and besides from how drab it is, it appearing would’ve been an embodiment of what would’ve been done.

Prewar styles resurrection through American neo art deco and “Arte Deuxveau” (portmanteau Of Art nouveau and deux, French For two) representing nostalgia to before the horrors of war. It helped that socialist groups abandoned brutalism once they realized it would’ve perpetuated the stereotype of the death of culture associates with the movements. Hence why their new movements were inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and moreover the Bauhaus.

This desire for positivity was part of why the hippie movement succeeded in the long run. While there were superficial clashes, the hopeful tone synched with the nostalgic desire for better times. Hence why we managed to get things like the US gaining a universal healthcare system (OOC: It would be like Australia’s in that private insurance is done for urgent non-emergencies).

Brutalism just reminded of corporations and so on and good freakin grief, the rise of corporate culture over in East Germany after the wall fell and how it spread to the former Warsaw Pact shows a reflection of inner ugliness.
 
Dolan

Dolan

Banned
The Anti-Brutalist movement in US peaked with how President Kennedy and then Nixon ordered the "humanization" of The Pentagon by covering the four outer walls with reliefs from four Major Wars USA has been involved in (American Revolution, Civil War, First World War, and Second World War) while putting images of peace and prosperity in the fifth wall, signifying US achievement of the 20th century.

All while transforming the Pentagon rooftops into a big garden that blooms with flowers from all over America.

Definitely the best contender for modern Wonders of The World.
 
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