Atlas of Brutalist Architecture

by Phaidon Press

A landmark survey of one of architecture's most controversial yet popular styles - in a great, new, classic edition

The Brutalist aesthetic is enjoying a renaissance - and this book documents Brutalism as never before. In the most wide-ranging investigation ever undertaken into one of architecture's most powerful movements, more than 850 Brutalist buildings - existing and demolished, classic and contemporary - are organized geographically into nine continental regions.

Much-loved masterpieces in the UK and USA sit alongside lesser-known examples in Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond - 102 countries in all, proving that Brutalism was, and continues to be, a truly international architectural phenomenon.

Includes twentieth-century masters such as Marcel Breuer, Lina Bo Bardi, Le Corbusier, Carlo Scarpa, Ernö Goldfinger, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, and Paul Rudolph. Contemporary architects featured include Alvaro Siza, Coop Himmelb(l)au, David Chipperfield, Herzog & de Meuron, Jean Nouvel, SANAA, OMA, Renzo Piano, Tadao Ando, and Zaha Hadid.

The New York Times Best Art Book of 2018

Genres: Architecture, Art, Nonfiction, Design, Reference, Photography, Art Design

568 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Phaidon Press is a global publisher of books on art, architecture, design, fashion, photography, and popular culture, as well as cookbooks, children's books, and travel books. The company is based in London and New York City, with additional offices in Paris and Berlin. wikipedia

Reviews

[Nils · Rating 5 out of 5]

A world tour in black and white with capsule histories of many of the most celebrated (and derided) Brutalist buildings. A bit short on ones that have been demolished, alas. Especially awesome are some of the rotting carcasses to the megalomaniacal ambitions of mid-century dictators, for example the brutalist sculptures of the former Yugoslavia. A gorgeous book, as one expects from Phaidon.

[Keen Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

Although not a definitive catalogue of all the major Brutalist creations in the world, this vast tome certainly gives it a decent shot. Though the omission of Sir Basil Spence’s Beehive in Wellington, NZ, which houses the parliament, seems like a bizarre oversight/omission. Although I got a bit of a treat at the many structures I had never set eyes on before, particularly the likes of The Freeway Park in Seattle, Vaillancourt Fountain, San Francisco, Milwaukee County War Memorial. And that was just within the continental US.

Although clearly focusing on Brutalism there are many examples which could also fall under Metabolist, Biomorphic, Deconstructivist, Art Deco, Neo-Constructivist, and many other sub-genres of architecture. I had no idea how many examples of Brutalism that the likes of I.M. Pei, Louis Khan, Minoru Yamasaki and Eero Saarinen were responsible for in their career.

Over the journey you really begin to see the many regional variations in different parts of the world, such as the highly distinctive Spomeniks (Soviet memorials) scattered throughout so much of the former Eastern Bloc and Soviet Asia too, which really personify the idea of masculine architecture.

In spite of some oversights here and there and shortcomings with some of the photographic angles etc this is essential reading for Brutalist fetishists and architecture enthusiasts alike. In the end this becomes a bit of a world tour as much as guide to Brutalism. And after around 550 pages you too will find out just how much you enjoy or maybe don’t enjoy the form.

[Mikko Aulio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful compendium of brutalist architecture—especially béton brut—from all corners of the world. Some typographical choices and occasional pictures of sub-par quality are minor annoyances that don’t sully the overall experience.

[Kamakana · Rating 3 out of 5]

240721: comfortable book for architects and architecture-interested. coffee table. big. heavy. extensive. many new buildings, many familiar- but then I look at art-architecture books (49). just photos, no plans, little capsule commentary. only in person seen ones in Canada (Vancouver, Montreal) and Hawai'i...

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some amazing photos, some amazing buildings. Print was a little small for me, but really enjoyed looking at all of these buildings.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's not a lot of reading involved in this book, it's mostly a matter of looking at black and white photos of concrete buildings in the brutalist style. The introduction alerts the reader to the fact that they've taken a very inclusive attitude toward what qualifies as "brutalist" which probably made for a more interesting book. As with any style, when it's good, it can be remarkably beautiful. But when it's not, it's hard to imagine anything uglier.

So this won't be of interest to everyone, that's for sure! But if you are curious about this style of building, it's a great resource.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book with beautiful photos of ... brutiful buildings. I know almost nothing about architecture, but I am intrigued by the style and function of brutalist buildings. There is a brief introduction that provides come history of the style, and then there are about 800 different buildings catalogued, each with a blurb describing/documenting the building. I personally would love more photos of interiors, but that would probably take a 500 page book into the 1000s of pages.

[Cosmin Leucuța · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tot ce trebuie să știi despre arhitectura brutalistă se află în acest atlas super-deluxe, care adună aproape 900 de clădiri din toată lumea (grupate pe continente, regiuni și țări) și cântărește 4,2 kg (da, l-am cântărit!)

Atlasul are prefață care discută stilul brutalist de la origine până în zilele noastre, un glosar de termeni și index fotografic pentru toate imaginile incluse.

Fiecare clădire e prezentată dpdv istoric și arhitectural (într-un limbaj care îți dă impresia că absolut toți comentatorii arhitecturali sunt poeți care l-ar face pe Eminescu să plângă de ciudă), cu detalii legate de autorii designului, locație, anul și motivul construcției, starea curentă a clădirii și statusul utilizării, precum și fotografii alb-negru de înaltă calitate.

Merită fiecare leu pe care l-am plătit. Și n-au fost puțini.

[Scott Tienken · Rating 2 out of 5]

maybe i'm late to the game on these phaidon arty bombers but the accompanying text on these suckers is far too tilted to the armchair architecturalist and way too low on cultural-philosophical stuff. also, the pics often kinda blow. design of book reinforces fetishism of worst examples of recovered brutalism. a lost opportunity.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING volume. Giant, and very very cool!

[Josie Deryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shame that Wales only features once but at least it was a Cardiff building!

[cypher · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful book, very nicely organised and printed. interesting information.

[Íñigo Alfonso Asama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice pictures, but a lot of it was not brutalist.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plenty of structures that I would not consider to be typically Brutalist are included, which contributes to making this atlas enormous. I skipped most of the descriptions so it wouldn't take me six months to finish. A wide range of buildings are covered, from the usual offices and houses to sanatoriums and even a Nazi gun emplacement on the Channel Islands - demonstrating how adaptable this architectural style is. Eastern Europe of course wins, with the most interesting and odd examples, and the link between Brutalism and the history of this area was valuable.