These decades-long buildings stood the test of time with its strong structures meant for functionality and permanence
Following the Second World War, there was a shift in the architecture and design of buildings around the world. Architects of the time broke away from creating ornamental buildings of contemporary architecture in the decades prior, such as the Empire State Building; and strived for more functional and practical structures to accommodate the needs and purposes of the inhabitants.
The architectural philosophy was translated into Brutalism, a utilitarian architectural movement that emerged in the 1950s, which exhibited the extensive use of raw, exposed concrete encasing open, geometric spaces.
Read more: Home tour: A modern brutalist house in Singapore inspired by its green views
Simple, bold and honest, the Brutalism aesthetic served its purpose for institutional buildings and high-density public housing complexes. However, its controversial and polarising structures drew criticism of being “cold” and “soulless,” with an architectural style that was associated with urban decay and totalitarianism.
While Brutalism began its decline in the late 1970s, many Brutalist buildings still remained standing today, against the test of time; they were, after all, constructed to represent strength and permanence following the destruction and chaos of the war. In fact, some even garnered legal protections due to its historical and cultural significance.
Here are five outstanding Brutalist buildings around the world that made and preserved the unusual but enduring architecture amidst modern buildings that came after, as if in a world of their own, frozen in time.
See also: Home tour: How Farm designed a concrete house in Singapore in the style of a doll’s house