Keep Brutalist Buildings Around!

Published in Brutalism & Conservation | By Urban Arch Now Editorial

Around the world, incredible constructivist and brutalist buildings are being destroyed. These monolithic concrete structures, which once defined post-war architectural ambition, are rapidly disappearing from our cityscapes. As cultural artifacts, they face an uphill battle for public affection and preservation.

Imposing concrete facade of a brutalist building — Buildings like the Orange County Government Center by Paul Rudolph have frequently found themselves in danger of demolition.

The Difficulty of Preserving the "Recent Past"

In a recent discussion forum at the Art Institute of Chicago, Ann Beha—an architect widely known for sensitive conservation and conversion projects—highlighted a fundamental challenge in the world of historic preservation:

"The most difficult part of preservation is the recent past, and specifically the adaptive re-use of brutalist buildings is difficult because of the nature of those structures."

Todd Williams, Principal of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects in New York, expanded on this sentiment by emphasizing that as architects, we must be willing to "respect the past right up unto the present."

Prentice Women's Hospital aesthetic representation — As recent cultural relics which have yet to become appreciated as pieces of art, many brutalist works like Chicago's Prentice Women's Hospital face public misunderstanding and the wrecking ball.

Exploring New Ways to Stay Relevant

Because these works are still largely unknown or unloved by the general public, they are disproportionately in danger of demolition. As architects and urban enthusiasts, we need to explore new ways to keep these structures relevant. Adaptive reuse provides a beacon of hope.

The Singapore Power Building (now known as TripleOne Somerset), a striking 1977 brutalist office tower, has recently undergone an extremely successful adaptive restoration. The tower facade was updated from a dingy mosaic tile to sleek metal panels, while retaining the original architectural character and updating the environmental performance of the building. The stark, monumental base was broken up to allow for street-level retail and pedestrian permeability.

Thriving in Their Original Intent

While adaptive reuse is crucial for buildings whose functions have become obsolete, the most successful remaining structures from the Brutalist period in architecture are perhaps the ones which are still being used for their original intent.

Marina City Chicago twin brutalist residential towers — Marina City in Chicago stands as a testament to successful long-term use of brutalist residential architecture.

Residential towers such as Marina City in Chicago have yet to lose their appeal. With their distinct "corn cob" aesthetics and highly functional layouts, they have developed a cult-like cultural status in worldwide architectural discourse. They prove that with the right design and continued maintenance, concrete monoliths can be beloved homes rather than cold fortresses.

Instead of erasing our recent architectural history, it is time to embrace and reinvent it. Explore more thoughts on urban preservation and modern architecture by returning to the slot depo 10k.