SOS BRUTALISM—Save the Concrete Monsters!
A traveling exhibition at the DAM (German Architecture Museum) in Frankfurt am Main in 2017 will be at the Yale School of Architecture Gallery in the Fall 2022 term. The show features pieces from the first-ever global examination of the 1950s–1970s brutalist architecture. More than 2180 buildings are now on the website sosbrutalism.com.
As used by the British critic Rayner Banham to describe the work of Alison and Peter Smithson. Brutalism represented a new kind of ethos in architecture that was direct and unadorned. The term Brutalism does not derive from the word “brutal,” but rather from the French word brut, which means “direct, rough, and dry.” The name quickly came with a link to Le Corbusier’s architecture, which at the time had highly rough concrete surfaces known as béton brut. This inspired architects to design structures with exposed concrete and celebration an aesthetic that frequently appeared brutal.
SOS BRUTALISM—Save the Concrete Monsters!
During a post-war era characterized by innovation and cultural upheaval, this expressive style emerged. It eventually came to stand for a hero’s portrayal of institutions, both old and new, in areas that had just declared their independence from colonialism. Additionally, it is incredibly photogenic and has recently attained cult status on social media. Despite this, many people still only view these structures as obnoxious concrete monsters, and many of them are in danger. In light of this, #SOSBrutalism is a campaign to link projects to conserve Brutalist structures all around the world.
The exhibition has 11 geographical locations and 7 subject chapters. It gives viewers a sense of the scope of Brutalism’s influence around the world. And provides more in-depth knowledge of some of the movement’s characteristics, complexity, and criticisms. The Yale School of Architecture display also features many extremely large-scale models, a collection of the cast, and 3D-printed miniatures. A new thematic chapter focusing on the distinctive legacy of Brutalist architecture in New Haven was added to the show for this episode.
