NEW BRUTALISM: ICONIC BUILDINGS

University of East Anglia

Designed: 1962

Architect: Denys Lasdun & Bernard Feilden

A move away from London explores a new style of brutalism, with a heavy reliance on glasswork, a lesser used but still pivotal aspect of brutalist design. The ‘Ziggurats’ contradicts many other brutalist buildings, with its focus on light and fluidity, rather than large expanses of concrete commonly associated with the Brutalist style.

Royal National Theatre

Designed: 1976

Architect: Denys Lasdun

Standing on the bank of the river Thames, the Royal National Theatre is one on London’s leading landmarks. Described as “an aesthetic of broken forms” by Mark Girouard upon its opening, the building has a very ‘Marmite’ appearance, with its use of concrete being described as “overbearing”. It simultaneously received commendation for being among London’s ‘Most Popular’ and ‘Most Hated’ buildings. Since 1994, the building has received Grade II listed status for its architectural importance, due to its raw nature and small windowed facade, highlighing it as an iconic brutalist work.

Clifton Cathedral Bristol

Designed: 1970

Architect: Ronald J. Weeks, Frederick S. Jennett and Antoni Poremba

Clifton Cathedral stands at a polar opposite when compared to many brutalist buildings. Gone are damp and narrow hallways and rooms, replaced instead by vast open space, flooded with light and colour from the stained glass, creating the perfect juxtaposition between the raw concrete and the place of worship inside. This creates a sense of calm, drawing comparasons to a break through the trees, helping create a sense of profound spirituality within its vaulted spire.

Barbican Centre

Designed: 1982

Architect: Chamberlain, Powell and Bon

Perhaps one of London’s most iconic complexes, the Barbican Centre was a revolutionary building complex. Officially a performing arts centre, it features an almost 2000 seat concert hall and over a 1000 seat theatre, in addition to a gallery, a 3 screen cinema space, a public library, conference halls and houses 4000 people in the Barbican Estate. As a later project, it moves away from traditionalist brutalist features, incorporating dressed stonework, highlighting the improvement of the post war economy.