The Economist Building designed in 1962 by Alison and Peter Smithson is an example of new brutalist architecture. (iStock)

While it may sound off-putting or even a little scary, Brutalism is actually a distinctive type of architecture and a very interesting phenomenon. Brutalism was a controversial architectural movement in the middle of the 20th century. It led to the construction of some dramatic-appearing yet functional buildings, many of which are still in use as of the present day.

What is Brutalism?

Brutalism is a style of architecture that descended from the Modernist movement. It was fashionable from the 1950s to the end of the 1970s and is now enjoying a resurgence in popularity in some circles. Named for its use of unfinished raw concrete (or "béton brut" in French), which was cast on the building site, uber urban Brutalist architecture tended to be imposing in scale and was often used for high-rise housing projects, civic buildings, universities, and shopping centers....Continue Reading

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