The Most Hated Buildings in the World

Brutalism... Love or hate?! Brutalist buildings are one of the most controversial in the world, hated by many, but loved by a small subgroup of people. It’s also the building style that has captivated a wider range of audience outside of architecture. Here, we discuss why.
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[@DamiLeeArch]

Do you love or hate brutalist architecture? Why or why not?

[@KingKong-yl8kl]

I love it 😍😍

[@jamesl9371]

I don’t like it

[@mr.rousseau.4655]

I find brutalist architecture to be dystopian and unapologetically depressing. You can make it look quite utopian if you were to change the aesthetics. Concrete lacks the futuristic after the appearance of shiny polished steel and watch the natural beauty of stone.

[@MuhammadRizal-ru8bn]

beacuse my lecture. he love it and i got some love spread brutalism from him, yahhh its so freak by the way :'). btw tadao ando it his master, lol

[@suxiruy1]

I like brutalism because it represents the pain of being exposed down to your bare bones, and at the same time failing to express what you actually intend

[@galaxytrio]

I suggest the most interesting question of all about Brutalism is how a style that a relatively small number of architects liked and the public hated became so ubiquitous -- in public buildings! An analysis of the social process that resulted in so many decision-makers green-lighting these buildings would be _fascinating,_ and quite relevant today. Was it similar to what happened to the admirers of the Emperor's new clothes?

[@DamiLeeArch]

Whoa that would be a really interesting topic. But I imagine, like many design processes, it wasn't properly documented. Only if I had a journalistic team on my side 🙁

[@suburbanyute340]

@@DamiLeeArch simple answer. no other style of architecture expresses an imposing and impervious sense of authority like brutalism.

[@lawrencejob]

@@suburbanyute340 I would guess that people commissioning civic buildings (politicians and leaders) want something pragmatic yet impressive for their legacy or career. They’re practically modern day pyramids and tombs. I don’t think the intention is always to project authority, from (anecdotal) experience, so much as it is to project a sense of longevity and sturdiness. But this is cultural. I’m from the U.K. which is largely democratic and with many small local authorities with tight budgets, which affects the culture a lot

[@edwardsheehan1564]

Tom Wolfe wrote a book highly critical of public architecture. In short, it’s just a combination of elitist thinking and gobs of public money.

[@雷-t3j]

@@edwardsheehan1564 tbfh I don't think private architecture is much better, especially when the builders are rolling in cash. That said, I definitely would like to design and live in something myself, and find that process intrigueing.

[@Saavik256]

I grew up in former Yugoslavia and have been around brutalist architecture all my life and I actually really enjoy the style. I can understand why a lot of people don't, but to me it feels cool. I'm also on the autistic spectrum and have a thing about right angles and stuff so I guess that kinda is a factor as well. Great video! Looking forward to new ones! :)

[@Lucy-hk4fn]

I think I like these buildings for a similar reason. I don't like feeling cramped or like there are too many fussy details in a space, so I like the dramatic lines and edges of brutalist architecture, and the way it can make you feel small and insignificant!

[@flameguy3416]

Until one collapses with 50 families inside

[@mercai]

Interestingly, this is probably same reason I enjoy Brutalism so much. It just calms down, while most of the architectural styles before it aggravate and bombard the senses with needless details. It is weird to discover that so many people do not find Brutalism as appealing

[@roguestarr4382]

Could do a video on 'Hostile Architecture' and its role in cities and its impact on homelessness? Its something ive just heard of, but ive seen around but never considered it as deterent for crime and loitering.

[@DamiLeeArch]

Yes would be a good video topic. Thanks for the suggestion!!! 👍

[@donkeydik2602]

How is it a deterent to crime?

[@PowerMadLabRat]

@@donkeydik2602 Like spikes on a railing to stop someone climbing, or uneven ground to stop loitering etc. I'm sure there are many others, and more interesting ones at that!

[@donkeydik2602]

@@PowerMadLabRat interesting

[@michaeld4861]

@@donkeydik2602 In the US being homeless is a crime so putting spikes on everything deters you from continuing your existence since you can never lay down anywhere.

[@boldvankaalen3896]

I used to work in a brutalist building. I really hated going there. The scale, the greyness and lack of detail just say: you mean nothing, I am going to crush you.

[@DamiLeeArch]

Hahah "if this building could talk"...

[@samiamtheman7379]

I think that's the flaw in brutalism. It's one thing if you just see a picture of them, but if you're actually around these buildings, they can stick out like a sore thumb in a bad way, and the "honesty of the architecture" thing often comes off as more oppressive and lacking in humanity.

[@TheStrangeBloke]

Terrible from a functional perspective, and terrible when not maintained heavily, and nobody wants to spend time there, but ITS A BEAUTIFUL ART PIECE WITH GREAT IDEOLOGICAL BACKING! The contempt for the people who actually use the space seems to be a case of the architect's intent being clearly conveyed.

[@pieterpuk7684]

Which is coincidentally what radical socialism turned out to be as a political movement xD

[@dudeidontcare3430]

@@samiamtheman7379 It's not a 'flaw', this was the true intent behind brutalism, not 'democracy'.

[@Thebluebridgetroll]

I lived in a brutalist high rise dorm my freshman year of college at University of Washington. I have to say, I love the VISUALS of the 60s dorms, but living in them was miserable. Autumn and winter it was FREEZING, and then spring and summer it was BOILING. They had very poor insulation, and a central boiler heating system that they didn't turn on til January and left running until June. Made May and June disgustingly hot. All that said, the misery made for really good camaraderie and community. Made more friends that year bitching about how much the living situation sucked than I did any other year at school.

[@robertshearer672]

I was watching this, loving it and then I realised it's only got 640 views!! The editing is great, and it's presented really well, funny and engaging. I totally got big ytuber vibes off it.

[@DamiLeeArch]

Thank you so much!!! I'll be content being a medium ytuber hahah 😂 How did you find the video?

[@Arcaryon]

I think this channel will expand a lot through legacy views due to the excellent quality it presents.

[@KnowThyself_life]

107k now and counting...

[@ADM.II.]

​@@KnowThyself_life1.68 million subscribers now.

[@DudokX]

I love when brutalist buildings are combined with a lot of greenery. I like the contrast, almost makes it feel like a building from another planet in a sci-fi movie

[@erickamorillo7164]

Yes! The Barbican Conservatory feels like this.

[@damekkoDark]

we have a library like that! imposing brutalism building on the inside, lovely winter garden with lots of natural light on the inside. I think the concept was about enlightment of knowledge

[@michellenguyen2960]

kind of like when nature infiltrates the abandoned concrete buildings in the game "The Last of Us"

[@prettyawesomejm]

Yes!

[@JM-to9dk]

@@damekkoDark what is it called? Would love to check it out.

[@mcm531]

just discovered your channel and been catching a mix of your newer and older videos. Anyways - don’t have too much to say but just thank you - this is the type of content that I absolutely love on this platform. Taking something too complex and finding a way to break it down and eagerly consumed by a larger audience that may not have the educational or professional background to otherwise enjoy it. This really is what this platform is all about and I absolutely enjoy how you can break down such otherwise esoteric topics.

[@RinoaL]

Average people hate brutalism because they definitely see the intent and ethics within the form.

[@Weibing84]

What ethics?

[@ann-marieeigert2720]

It’s the classic conflict that sometimes occurs between artistry and UX design. What is more important, to make a piece of art (a giant sculpture!) or to create a human-friendly place? I work in web dev and have seen many really cool yet really difficult websites. The difference is that once it is built the community can’t opt-out of a bad building.

[@xeventidex]

there is a couple of brutalist buildings here in my town (brasília - BR), residential ones even, and as the town itself they divide opinions. i personally love them because of they emanate a very particular - almost nostalgic - austerity while minimalist in shapes. it's powerful to the senses, honestly. very liminal. they're often stained by rain or whatever which adds to the vibe, and they do contrast beautifully with organic elements such as trees and water.

[@KarolYuuki]

The library of my University is a brutalist building. I have never felt so uncomfortable in a library on my life and I didn't know why. That was probably a big factor

[@herbtarlic892]

You must have attended University of Toronto. LOL!

[@KarolYuuki]

@@herbtarlic892 I didn't, but from pics it actually looks a lot cooler than mine XD

[@LeRoiJojo]

Here in Quebec, a lot of public buildings were built in a brutalist style, and I have to admit I have grown to like them a lot. The 60s and 70s, here, were steeped in optimism; society was changing, fast, and mostly for the better. Everything was being built and rebuilt. It has been called "The Tranquil Revolution", and for good reason. And there's just something, something I can feel, being in the big concrete blocks that have become our universities and our government buildings. I can feel the air of the 60s, back to a time where modernity was something good and exciting, something we were not ashamed to show to the world. There's something soulful in there. Modern Quebec, the one I know, has been built from within brutalist buildings, and in a way, I feel like they still are the very tangible manifestation of the hopes and dreams the previous generations had for our future.

[@avilesandres]

What a great comment

[@dakoitcave817]

You showed a pic of the famous Robarts library in University of Toronto campus. As one of the finest examples of brutalist design, it is also one of the largest and most depressing buildings in the whole historic campus. It just doesn’t fit with the other architecture throughout the campus. I personally couldn’t study there. It was supposed to be in a shape of a bird but it looks like a massive eyesore. The inside is vastly open, dark, cold, and “penitential”. It feels as though it’s supposed to repress the energy of new profound thought. This type of structure should never a be vessel for academia or higher learning.

[@GhostedStories]

To me, Brutalism and Minimalism works or mixes well together.

[@paolosalgo6987]

yeah those loft industrial minimal house. damn! love it!

[@SLITTHROAT13]

Minimal brutality

[@jurajilic2814]

YEAAHHH TBH IN BRUTALISM to me people give life, at least here in croatia, bcs its blend (simple) your eye is catched more often by peoples balconies and windows, and you see into their lifes, their clothes, if they got kids, like a building housing character upon character. CROATIA btw, I love the brutalism here, idk, grew up, never felt awfull, always welcoming and familliar

[@rickmorty7284]

I absolutely hate brutalism.

[@takanara7]

@@rickmorty7284 You probably only listen to bland music too.

[@erwinc.9117]

Brutalism is not an easy style to do well, but when done well, can be absolutely amazing. To me the main visual feature of Brutalism is the mass and weight. The earthy texture and colour of rough cast concrete combined with the strong geometric lines create imposing structures that incite a sense of strength and security. However it needs to be clevered kept in check with either greenery (see case of Barbican), paint/mosaic (see Unite d'Habitation), or simply through clever, futuristic lines (see Genex Tower). When the elements combine well, you get a building that feels warm and earthy, yet not overbearing.

[@Friek555]

Thank you for mentioning the Genex tower, I didn't know that and now that I've googled it, I love it! They just nailed the geometry on that building

[@axemenace6637]

Check out Mission Park at Williams College. In my opinion, it’s a beautiful application of brutalism to a naturally beautifully area. In some sense, it highlights the beauty of the surrounding area by its unpretentiousness and simplicity.

[@jaylee5639]

This is exactly right. Lots of terrible Brutalist architecture, but the good stuff is amazing.

[@eljanrimsa5843]

I went to school in a brutalist concrete building and I really hated the atmosphere it created. I don't care about the outside, but it had loud steel stairs that amplified the sound of every step, and a green plastic carpeting that always smelled bad and gave you bad burns.

[@lovelydawnpalma2319]

You are so eloquent I just followed you today but I never stopped watching. I am fresh grad of architecture in the Philippines. My favorite architectural style since 2nd year is Brutalism. I love how you unravel the topic interestingly

[@42976675]

Tadao Ando appears to like concrete. I do not know if that makes him Brutalist. I love his The Modern Museum in Ft Worth. Walking in and around it feels like an adventure of discovery. I would love to see his other buildings too. You are a talented presenter. I fell into the rabbit hole of your channel today and have really enjoyed it.

[@technopirate304]

I actually like brutalist building in certain instances. Growing up in Orlando, Florida our main library was brutalist. It was one of my favorite spots to visit as it was so huge inside. Imagine my surprise when I moved to Atlanta and discovered the Fulton County library was also brutalist.

[@hanskloss1331]

same in Ft. Lauderdale

[@christophercasey7388]

You also see these buildings in dystopian movies (A Clockwork Orange), and sci-fi movies where everyone must conform, etc. They are used as backdrops because of what message they convey (think Pruitt-Igoe).

[@JoelMendoza43]

Got here for the macbook reviews but definitely stayed for the quality architecture content. Please do not stop making these, love from Mexico (Take a look into the Vasconcelos Library in Mexico City or the "Monumento de la revolución")

[@DamiLeeArch]

Wow really interesting buildings, esp. the library. I kinda love how the entrance sinks into the ground.

[@JoelMendoza43]

@@DamiLeeArch Yeah, they are fascinating and concrete is the main material of the interiors. When watching your video in concrete that place is all I could think about

[@alfredo-ferreira]

Loved your thinking on brutalism, which I also adore. And your style of presentation is nicely disarming, confident, and informed. Subscribed!

[@theploeg]

The first time I saw the Robarts library in Toronto I was with several friends who all thought it was ugly. I thought it was beautiful and a stunning statue of a bird (the turkey) and immediately fell in love with it. Trying to defend it was fruitless cause, most don’t like it but those that do love it a lot. I grew up in Toronto in the 80’s and a lot of the newer(at the time) and bigger public libraries across the city were brutalist, instead of cold I always found them full of life, children and of course knowledge, the internet of the day. Whether it was social events in one of the larger rooms or a long study/reading session in one of the private study cubicles deep in my own thoughts I have only fond memories in these spaces.

[@BS-vx8dg]

I'd not seen the Robarts until your comment; looked it up on Wikipedia, and at first thought it very vaguely reminded me of UCSD's Geisel Library. But then I hit the Google Maps satellite view, and whoa! That triangular shape is *not* conveyed in the Wikipedia article, and that is a major part of what makes it (to my thinking) a bit atypical of a brutalist structure. You don't have to defend your fondness for it.

[@wclark3196]

Robarts does have some appeal as sculpture. It doesn't work particularly well as a place for people (I spent a fair amount of time there). It does work for books though. The small windows protects them from light, which is bad for them.

[@lz950]

so thankful i found your channel! I'm going into arch rn and your videos on the macbook, things you should know, and now brutalism is so up my alley! i've always loved brutalism for aesthetic reasons and can't understand why people Hate it. now that i know more about the history of it i truly appreciate it even more! for me, brutalism is kind of a sanctuary from all the dazzling shining buildings and spaces we're now surrounded by. it exist just to hold people in and do it's thing minding it's own business. the concrete is a lot like skin texture and they get spots or bumps here and there, it's very comforting. i'm in no way hating on beautiful intricate buildings but as a person whos got bad sensory overload, brutalism just calms me down, this is the best explanation i can come up with :)

[@gejlglen]

i follow a socialistbutalism hashtag on ig and i stumbled on ur post for this video. i wanted to say that i rly like ur narration style bc u talk rly concisely and u have a very pretty voice!!

[@DamiLeeArch]

thank you so much!!! I was just talking about how I was so shocked to hear my own voice... it was so much better in my head!!! I'm happy you liked the video (buat actually more happy that you like my voice ^^) if you're interested in brutalism, I will be blogging this week about some of the buildings in the video! www.damilee.com/blog/brutalism

[@akaking7499]

I hate it because I live in Soviet built part of Tbilisi, which is famous for its different eras of architecture, from medieval to post modern. Its nice to compare and contrast those radically different styles of architecture, especially when we have one of the best examples of Soviet Brutalism, Some buildings shown in this video are from Tbilisi. But but but, living day to day, surrounded by featureless gray blocks, day in and day out, every Housing block exactly the same as the last thousand, no way to tell where you are by landmarks because they are all the same, it becomes dreadful, then you go to the center of the town to the old streets and see pretty colored, richly detailed old wooden houses, with European styles of office buildings, small parks and fun statues, the contrast makes going home much harder.

[@mu5ic2myears]

Really enjoyed watching your video..so informative and entertaining with enough history!! Keep up the awesome work!!!

[@DamiLeeArch]

Thank you so much christian!! It was a lot of work but fun overall! So happy you liked it!!

[@eatfruitsalad345]

really enjoyed learning about this topic! i still remember the cold touch of the smooth concrete pillars at the brutalist library in my university, and the raked concrete textures on the outer walls

[@vinapocalypse]

Very nice video, I look forward to Part 2 if you do it! I think Brutalism to me is like a train wreck. It's a mess but sometimes you can't help but stare lol You said it well that those architects didn't consider that people don't actually like hanging out in cavernous buildings. I admire the intent of the ethos for populist architecture, but I think it was not thought through except at an intellectual level: people *like* ornamentation, and come up with it in myriad forms on their own all over the world when they are capable of doing so, and I don't count "texturing" concrete as ornamentation. So some architects unilaterally stripping it out ornamentation which cultures have evolved with and saying "ok, this is your built environment now" simply because the building technique and materials are cheaper, seems like the most bottom-line, capitalist maneuver and not at all democratic. I've said for a long time that architects of that stripe focus on their work as art and not their work as something human beings have to interface with on a daily basis, which is why it's interesting to look at in photos can be anywhere from underwhelming to isolating to abysmal when you have to live in the middle of it.

[@DamiLeeArch]

Exactly.. I Brutalism is a powerful a lesson for all architects.. understand the people instead of imposing your ideas onto them! At the same time, when you look at the entire phase of Modernism, the idea was that "if you change the architecture, the people will change accordingly", which is a fundamentally flawed idea but definitely held a lot of traction back then!

[@timp2751]

I think the texturing makes it worse! Exacerbates the dirt/weathering issues and just looks harsh and unforgiving if you were to accidentally fall against it. On the inside it also tends to continue to be much more obvious in the face of inhabitant efforts to provide that ornamentation. I think people tolerate minimalist interiors more because they fade into the background better

[@joemaloney1019]

Large concrete structures are as warm as a large barren cliff but even such a Cliff may have a scraggly windswept bush growing in a crack,, the concrete structure not so much.

[@ashleighcrofts3827]

Such interesting information to chew on and a fab selection of precedents! Another winner Dami!!

[@DamiLeeArch]

Thanks Ash!! There were so many good precedents it was hard to narrow down 😁 making this vid definitely increased my appreciation for brutalist buildings

[@userofthetube2701]

I have a love-hate relationship with brutalism. On the one hand, I love the boldness and sculptural quality of these buildings that you rarely see anywhere else. On the other hand, they rarely create a pleasant environment for people to be. Although poor maintenance and social issues may also play a role in that. But I do wonder what would happen if someone designed a building with the expressiveness of brutalism, but just clad it in a nicer material than concrete.

[@BS-vx8dg]

Fantastic comment, 2701.

[@MrOiram46]

just adding a colorful dye to the concrete would already give it a more jolly look

[@ElliotKeaton]

_"But I do wonder what would happen if someone designed a building with the expressiveness of brutalism, but just clad it in a nicer material than concrete."_ There was a rather big debate back in the 2010s about whether websites should be designed "PC first" or "mobile first". The argument for PC first was that they could create well designed websites and then scale them down for the mobile version. The argument for mobile first was that they could design websites that fully utilized smaller, touch based mobile devices and then scale them up for PCs. In practice, mobile first design wound up meaning mobile only design because why make something cost more than it needs to? Websites that embraced mobile first often wound up identical and bland even on PCs because scaling up cost money and they already had a functional product that people used. No matter what your design philosophy is, the company footing the bill will cut costs on what they see as unnecessary expenditures, and when the obvious unnecessary expenditure is the outer shell expect that to get scrapped in the first round of budget cuts.

[@Vertze]

I think you can kind of see the Dada movement as an interesting precursor to the Brutalist style. The contempt that the two have for pre-war ornamental design conventions is similar in a lot of ways. Great video!

[@iakinose]

As someone who is certainly not an architect but consider myself to be quite interested in architecture, my main problems with Brutalism is that the design is rarely human, and they are most often insensitive to their surroundings, with little nuance between them.

[@jklmn101]

That's because, it's a building, not a human. Shelter. No hugs, no friendly banter, just a place to use with some protection from the elements.

[@iakinose]

@@jklmn101 good one mate

[@vichychoco369]

I study architecture in the tu darmstadt in a concrete building from the 60s It's definitely a love hate relationship with the building But I love how the students appropriate the building and how it can withstand sometimes rough treatment when we bring our own saws or make plaster in the hallways it seem to gain character and I wouldn't dare to do it in a more filigrane structure

[@hkavanagh1975]

You should really try a “CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE -Love it or hate it” video too. Not a lot of architects really get any training in these skills and it’s such an eye opener. I’m slightly embarrassed for being a modernism enthusiast after getting trained in Classicism. You should check it out.

[@DamiLeeArch]

yeah that would be an interesting one!! I shall add it to the list

[@DPAE-xc4ph]

There are people that don't like classical architecture?

[@MrDude826]

@@DPAE-xc4ph People whom hate humanity hate pre war architecture.

[@nealwalden3543]

This is soooo fun to watch and listen to your descriptions and the examples etc... The inflection in your voice and the cadence thing is sooooo compelling. I went to Japan to see some of Ando's work (for the exquisite mastery of concrete, not brutalism).

[@yigitakyol1436]

Please please please make more pf these explanatory videos. They are amazing.

[@DamiLeeArch]

Thank you! Yes I definitely will 😊

[@jonatanwestholm]

My favourite examples are the Tegel airport, and the Czech embassy, both in Berlin

[@KamiKaZantA]

Having grow up around brutalism, and been around it for more or less four decades: No, I do not like brutalism. I hate it, I hate it with every fibre of my being. It is anti-character, it has no connection to the place they are built in, no details that the area might be known for.

[@XCATFANCYX]

I've spent some time in Boston city hall and went to a high school that was brutalist, the old Minuteman Tech in Lexington Ma. The lack of natural light both of the buildings let in is pretty bad, but there were some really cool feature to them. The Possession Of Hannah Grace was shot in the basement of Boston city hall.

[@cxsunchaser]

Great video, thank you for making it! The background information you lay out really helps understand where Brutalism “is coming from” but gosh I hate looking at Boston City Hall 😅.

[@DamiLeeArch]

Sometimes if we understand the history, we can learn to hate things a bit less... but sometimes you just have to go with your gut feeling 😁

[@edwardsheehan1564]

As a Bostonian, city hall is universally hated because it’s in the midst of so many beautiful old brick buildings (I think it should be torn down yesterday).

[@benjones1452]

Actually it’s not universally hated, Certainly those that hate it hate it very much and it has had its problems particular with ventilation but actually it is a few more people dislike it than like it but it’s actually quite balanced.

[@edwardsheehan1564]

@@benjones1452 Obviously an argument from anecdote on my end, but I've never met anyone with any good to say about it, aside from a few architects who don't even live here.

[@warwickrigby6894]

I divide Brutalist into two categories; everyday (concrete block) and spectacular (the East European statement). If Brutalism came back, we would do better than the first attempt. Better concrete, modern surface treatment, etc., and being able to avoid past problems.

[@yodaiam1000]

I designed the structure of the concrete belly at 6:24 on the left side of screen. It is the waterfall building in Vancouver by Arthur Erickson and Nick Milkovitch and is one of the few Brutalist structures that I like.

[@DamiLeeArch]

That's incredible! I love this building. One of the most unique in vancouver.

[@yodaiam1000]

@@DamiLeeArch I was lucky to be able to work with Arthur Erickson near the end of his career.

[@DamiLeeArch]

@@yodaiam1000 wow that's incredible. What was your experience like?

[@yodaiam1000]

@@DamiLeeArch I don't know if it was Arthur's age at the time or not but he was a lot nicer and easier to work with than a lot of the other "high-end" architects (some structural engineers might call them "high-maintenance" architects). But from my understanding his accountant may have said otherwise. There were also a number of other architects on the project that handled the nitty gritty and they were good to work with as well. A lot of what is good in a building comes from the people who really aren't recognized. Working on projects like that is high stress. There is a lot of demand to be fast, good, and perfect. I try to understand what and why an architect wants with a particular aesthetic or functionality and I work toward that goal. My boss at the time sealed the project but I certainly did a large chunk of the engineering along with a couple of other engineers. I worked with a lot of architects but Arthur was the most renowned.

[@digitalhindsight9822]

Honestly, I might be delusional, but I’m still having trouble understanding why people find brutalism ugly. I suppose it might depend on the building, but personally I’ve yet to see one that I thought qualified as ugly. Physical issues with asbestos, stability, maintenance are unfortunate but understandable, but personally I can’t really comprehend the aesthetic revulsion and the “agenda” to destroy them. I understand that having negative associations/traumatic experiences with a particular building might cause one to project those feelings onto all of a similar style, but it’s still perplexing to know how people want these structures demolished primarily because they don’t align with their taste. I’m not sure how these buildings can be imposing, depressing and negative. Anti-brutalists, on the other hand…well…haha

[@peytonbrown5394]

As an architecture enthusiast and an almost architect, I actually hate brutalism. However I was really into them briefly when I was 17-18, when I was more simple and naive, before my tastes and ideas became more complex and diverse. For the same reason I used to like minimalism but now detest it.

[@tailbonetailbone9380]

I love brutalism's focus on open spaces. I love the beautiful and contemplative nature of it, and the concrete almost makes it look natural. Here in Brazil we have the College of Architecture and Urbanism (FAU-USP) which is beloved by its students AFAIK. I love it to bits, it's a beautiful building.

[@AntonioOliveira-tx2or]

The FAU-USP building is really wonderful. I was talking to a friend of mine about how the Latin American perspective with Brutalism is extremely interesting. As the movement marries here with the development of decolonial ideas, the brutalist buildings here have a different search for a relationship with history and their surroundings. This makes them more refined and not so far removed from local architectural familiarity. Every time I see MAM Rio or the National Auditorium in Mexico City, the impression I have is that they are a step forward in relation to what has been produced in Europe or in the USA, this does not mean that their buildings are bad, quite the contrary, but there is clearly a difference between Latin America and the rest, that is.

[@alobosk]

I was one of those that saw the videos in TikTok, to the tune of Molchat Doma music. Truth is, I've been in love with brutalism since I started going out, literally. They always have fascinated me, and in Mexico City there are almost infinite examples: Museo Tamayo, by the award winning architect Abraham Zabludovsky is the first that comes to my mind. "Estadio Azteca" es definitely gorgeous. Other examples are "Centro Cultural Mexiquense", or "museo de antropolgia e historia de toluca" (albeit being painted on recently to avoid deterioration), "paseo de las palmas 555", arcos bosques tower, but there are so many more! And now I moved cities and I'm a walk away from two of the most famous examples in the planet: UCSD Library and the Salk Institute. I definitely dare you to take the next flight and get to see it's architecture. No city has such combination like Mexico City.

[@Towkeeyoh]

Love this video! Helped me appreciate brutalist more! In Singapore, there are very very brutalist buildings left. Golden Mile Complex is one of the few that’s left, and you described what people felt about buildings like it very accurately. I’m not an architect but I was really heart broken when news of it about to be taken down circulated, I see it more like heritage and history, we don’t have much of culture like this left in Singapore, but thankfully it has been saved. I do hope better care can be put into it, as much as I love how horrible it is. I can go on and on about it. There’s so much interesting history behind it!

[@PHiLLM4WR4TH]

I live in Geelong Australia, and the brutalist building here is my favourite building. It's locally known as the "upsidedown building" that the government Departments run out of, which I think is brilliant! Just a stern and sturdy building called the Department, which entering gives a daunting feeling as it caves over you as you enter. Just feels reliable and like there's a powerful governance to it. Also love seeing the occasional protest out the front, just gives the David and Goliath aesthetic. It is pretty hated locally, but I've loved the Upsidedown Department building since I was a child and often encourage others to love it too. It has been featured on Rick Owens fashion campaigns and other photography, which immortalises it a bit more. Though I'm hoping that it survives through the undeserved hate for many more generations to experience the immensity of it. To me, brutalism has an important place and we need to honour that, though I'm loving the revolution of Biophilic Design. To me it seems like the remedy to this Corporate trash & McMansion hell that we've had to endure from architectures and city planners.

[@MrAdrien1999]

I kinda love brutalist buildings, they give me a sense of awe. Although you have to be quite strict in what you call brutalist and what not. I always point people to the Barbican centre when they need to be convinced that Brutalism can actually be really beautiful, but it is on a technical level not really brutalist 🤫

[@Regalman]

Thank you for expanding my knowledge about all of this.

[@95GuitarMan13]

This is one of the best architecture videos on the internet. Super clear and well informed, plus entertaining! Can't wait to see more!

[@DamiLeeArch]

Wow thank you so much!!!

[@ritagreenwood9397]

I think the buildings are iconic and I'm glad that many still stand, but I'm aware of my perspective of looking back on them is maybe from a kind of 'artistic romanticised, nostalgia'.😅 The UK series 'Misfits' revived some interest in this style in the UK, being filmed in and around the Thamesmead, Southmere Lake estate 2009-2013. The 4 main structures look almost like sentries. P.s. I went to design college twice in London, but never did I think I was this interested in architecture (other than a passing gaze), until I started watching your channel! ^^

[@MegaMaxiepad]

"I think the buildings are iconic" replace iconic with ironic and I might agree

[@ritagreenwood9397]

@@MegaMaxiepad I's ok, I wasn't looking for approval! 😘

[@marcusmoonstein242]

As a trained Quantity Surveyor I'm attracted to the potential cost-efficiency of Brutalist buildings constructed from precast concrete elements. Brutalism also doesn't have to be ugly if done by a talented architect. In my opinion simply tinting the concrete to make it earth-toned and taking design inspiration from natural rock landscapes would make the style look much better.

[@Halberdcarl]

"You should live in monotonous hell holes because it's cheap. If you'd like we can paint them brown though of course!"

[@marcusmoonstein242]

@@Halberdcarl I agree that many Brutalist buildings are hideously ugly and poorly matched to the innate psychology of how humans actually like their spaces. I'm particularly put off by the vast barren concrete plazas that are often found around Brutalist buildings. However, the study of architectural aesthetics gives good indications that it's possible to build a cost-effective precast building that isn't also an eyesore. One avenue to explore is to tint the concrete elements to various shades of earth colors. Many earth-toned landscapes are considered pleasing to the eye, and our minds prefer color variety over monochrome anyway. Luckily today we have very good computer rendering technology, so it's entirely possible for talented students to design potentially good Brutalist buildings.

[@Foamboard-Flyby]

Living in Johannesburg, a lot of the buildings in the city centre are Brutalist, more so than in any other city I've been to. If you change your expectations of how a building should make you feel, you start to appreciate them

[@johnfausett3335]

I've almost completed a brutalist house. I just discovered the term, so I haven't known what to label the style until now. I began the project with a list of characteristics that I wanted and this is the form that it took. I had no preconceived ideas about form, but many ideas about function. Anyway, nice to put a name on it.

[@markflynn2076]

Nice job on the subject. Appreciate your perspective/comments as it gave me more background than other videos I have seen as well as your thoughts on concrete.

[@seaoftranquility7228]

I’ve loved brutalist buildings all my life. From way before I had ever heard the name. In Sydney where I grew up we had a building called the Sirius building that I would see as we drove past when I was a kid. I always thought it must have been for wealthy people, it was so modern and striking and dramatic. I found out later it was public housing and a lot of people hated it. It’s scheduled for demolition now but there are people fighting to preserve it. I hope they do. Look it up.

[@israelr2367]

The first 2 Subway lines here in São Paulo Brasil have bruralist stations and I love them. Excelent video. Congrats

[@roguestarr4382]

There is a special place in my heart for brutalist architecture primarily due to films like Blade Runner and Ghost In The Shell where they use brutalist environments to drive the theme of Dystopian Societies which is another genre that Im a fan of. I've studied in places, like college for example, that is built in brutalist form and i have to admit that it reminded me of a prison and i didn't enjoy that experience. The interior was dark and encapsulating. While it may enhance some peoples ability to focus because there is less to be distracted by, i found that i didn't enjoy spending much time in certain areas because it was numbing and cold. Its not surprising that people don't want to spend much time in these "cavernous" facilities as the interior is reminiscent of dark overbearing temples. Brutalist forms also come up in videogames like Halo which reflect ideas of military supremacy and intergalactic dominance fortified structures capable of resisting and repelling an attack. One of my favorite brutalist structures has to be the Salk Institute, but even those who occupy the space of the institute have complained of the lab areas being cramped and closed in.

[@DamiLeeArch]

I also love Salk Institute and other Louis Kahn buildings but have never visited them. I've actually been learning more and more about him these days and it seems like he was quite socially inept, having very little ability to relate to even his close family members. It gives a little clue as to who these architects were, that designed these concrete fortresses.. but yes they are quite beautiful to look at in photos and movies :)

[@roguestarr4382]

@@DamiLeeArch yeah, Kahn is an interesting guy. I haven't studied his personality, but coming across some of his lectures that have been recorded and placed on KZbin (if they're still around), Kahn would have dialogue with construction material and ask how does it want to be used. He suffered scars from a fire that he was in as a kid on his face so that has had an effect on him in various ways, but his inspiration for his buildings come from ruins of ancient civilizations. Socially inept? I don't know. Having multiple mistresses and children from those relationships hardly makes me think that he was a wall flower. If you do have an interest about Kahn, one his son's made a documentary called "My Architect" which is very interesting.

[@Ergogeorge]

I wouldn't say it's degredation was caused by people 'not wanting to hang out in public places', but chronic underfunding by the state, at least in UK social housing

[@deusexaethera]

It was explained to me a few weeks ago that the point of Brutalism is to minimize the individual and emphasize the important of the larger community. I never learned that in my one architecture class in college, and suddenly Brutalism makes much more sense.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

Emphasize the importance of the state more likely

[@chaselee86]

To me, a good community should be like a small village, with parks and trees, that people would walk their dogs and talk to neighbours. There should be local shops, not chain stores. It should be walkable, open space, and friendly to children and elderly. Brutalist buildings just show the oppression of the state and corporate capitalism, disregard of nature and humanity, and the super ego of some architects.

[@RCSVirginia]

Shawn Elliott I don't agree. Methinks that it was to denigrate and demean the individual, and to elevate the state, preferably a totalitarian state.

[@9oon3r]

Awesome job !! So impressed with your video edit skills haha

[@DamiLeeArch]

Thanks stu!!!

[@mateyout5115]

i live in Skopje, and we have a lot of brutalist buildings here and i personally love them! Also there are a lot of other massive and beautiful (in my opinion) brutalist buildings and monuments spread around the ex Yugoslavian countries and they are so iconic.

[@wargameforge]

I like the look of brutalism buildings when designing urban scale model game terrain. Love your channel for inspiration.

[@POLARTTYRTM]

I actually think brutalist building are mostly very depressing. They are too imposing and look like they are destroying their surroudings, depriving the environment of what makes it look "friendly". They are a symbol of authoritarianism and oppression, popular in dictatorships. I just can't like most of them for these reasons. I am still trying to find words to describe why exactly I don't like them.

[@DamiLeeArch]

Yes I agree, most brutalist buildings are imposing, cold and 'mean looking'. Although there are some brutalist buildings that I really love, like Ron Thom's trent university campus. This building in particular, I always thought was ugly until I visited it. It just had a quality that's very majestic, poetic, and harmonious with nature, that's hard to find in new buildings. Although I did visit it during the fall, when the leaves were bright orange, it might be a different story in the -30 degree Ontario winters ^^

[@CUBETechie]

I think brutalist buildings looks either good or bad

[@beedoo000]

check out the faculty of law building at the university of alberta. it’s actually an enjoyable building to study inside, as they’ve kept the common areas quite comfortable and soft with mid-century styled furniture and lighting. it’s a pretty intuitive building to navigate too… that’s definitely an aspect of brutalism I enjoy. the common areas are well-highlighted and the building always feels active and social.

[@CharmaineStaAna]

You should def start a podcast

[@DamiLeeArch]

A youtube channel is already too much for me to handle 😅

[@CharmaineStaAna]

@@DamiLeeArch ill wait for it

[@gregoryolsen6718]

What is it like on the inside of these insane, hideous monsters? One complaint I have heard is that frequently interior features, plumbing, electrical, you name it don't work right and there never is a fix. But just about every article, youtube, you name it, shows dramatic photos of the exterior. What are they like inside? What is it like to work or live inside of these weird things. Isn't there an apartment complex in Montreal that is all cubular and brutalist? I'd love an interior tour of it.

[@szinyk]

I love Brutalist buildings. I grew up near Edmonton and in the 80s and 90s and all the malls and many public buildings and apartments were built in this style and I loved it. Imposing bunker-like exteriors but also warm, earth-tone interiors. It's kind of sad that the city seems intent to get rid (or re-clad) one of them after another, and they get replace with ho-hum buildings.

[@mattwales2734]

I grew up in the 70s in Dallas, Texas. Dallas hit it's big growth spurt in the 70s and 80s and much of what makes Dallas, 'Dallas' was built then. Everything ranging from IM Pei's Dallas City Hall and Public Library to D/FW Airport and Northpark Mall. I love brutalism, but I believe it's because of nostalgic reasons.

[@webx135]

Honestly I like brutalism because it creates such surreal spaces. I used to have a lot of dreams in such spaces before I knew what brutalism was. Lots of blank, open spaces with unnaturally pure geometry. Diffuse lighting coming from corners or creeping in from the sky. It gives you that "liminal space" feeling like being in an abandoned shopping mall or something, but without it having to be abandoned. Been to a few brutalist locations, and I like to just find a spot to sit and just dissociate from reality.

[@EdDohman]

I remember, even as a little kid LOVING concrete structures! The Lloyd Center Mall in Portland, Oregon... Prior to being remodeled in '89, the interior was concrete columns, beam, fountains, etc with metal art everywhere, use to love that place. The Cowlitz County Hall of Justice, first time I saw the north facade with it's concrete columns and weird slit windows at the top (jail cells) I thought that's cool! Even my high school had hints of brutalist, concrete and metal covered walkways everywhere and "the pit", a concrete gathering area with terraced seating. Even a well designed concrete parking structure excited me. Also, you stated that concrete is hard to work with. If you know what you are doing it is no harder to work with than any other building material. I have been a Carpenter for 32+ years and I enjoy doing concrete form work. Basically... I love Brutalist Architecture!

[@Capo98y]

I don't know anything about architecture but i find this style so futuristic and practical... i love it

[@espvp]

Fun fact: here in my city of Santo Domingo the 60's through 70's were an era of huge growth and thus many buildings (mainly public services, but also private and housing) stand today displaying brutalist architecture.

[@ghostdisco7455]

Brutalism is great! So majestic and gravity-defying. And cost-effective!

[@michaelt.5672]

If you don't count the heating bill, that is....

[@michaelstewart1526]

I like how imposing it is. It converts strength and it makes me feel like it's a safe dwelling. Spacious as well. So liberty, and security is what it conveys to me. Fills me with confidence. Some anesthetic choices I hate but generally speaking.

[@jefferson4213]

I did not know the term Brutalism until I started watching your segments. That said, I've aleays liked 'Brutalism' for its aesthetics, geometry, boldness. It makes for great dystopian beauty and sadness packed into one. It's not particularly good for my back though. I need something more cushy for that. 🤗

[@dant.3505]

Great video. I just found your channel and this is the first video of yours I watched. I enjoyed it and looking forward to more.🙂

[@es3359]

I'm a Millenial architectural enthusiast, and find Brustalism to be the most abhorrent legacy of the 20th century. Architects have become increasingly out of touch with designing buildings that inspire and delight those who see them and interact with them. The Beaux Arts movement, by contrast, was such an amazing period by making cities vibrant, beautiful public spaces that people were proud to inhabit and spend time in.

[@DamiLeeArch]

That's true, Brutalism was really based on these very high minded social ideals, without actually considering what people like and can grow to love. They do seem to instigate interesting conversations, but of course, architecture needs to do more than that ^^

[@Potatoverynice]

I want to agree, and would have probably only a couple years ago, as beaux arts, neoclassical, Georgian etc... Buildings are wonderful and looking through old photos of say London, with the absence of concrete, it just looks so divine. However I think an argument can be made for brutalism that although most of it is just hideous and out of place, when it is done right, it can be delightful, welcoming and peaceful. My best example for this is the barbican, it's a site that I can't praise enouph. You must visit it to understand, I recomend my friend to go there (a staunch anti brutalist) and he returned to me singing it's praise haha But not only is the barbican overall a nice place to be, it is saturated with many small and large details which arch back to the site it is on, considering the name "barbican" you can probably guess the site's history.

[@derrenleepoole]

Really glad I bumped into your channel, loving your content even though I’m not a architect. I live near Preston that has the massive brutalist car park and bus station, which I love. As a photographer, it’s probably why :)

[@Lucy-hk4fn]

Have you been to Lancaster University library reading room? It was my favourite place to study as a student there. I'm not an architecture expert so I don't know if it's brutalist exactly, but it has a similar scale and has a huge concrete windowsill desk type thing which I always found very cool!

[@derrenleepoole]

@@Lucy-hk4fn sadly I haven’t. Sounds interesting.

[@KarlSnarks]

I think you hit the nail on the head when talking about its photogenic quality. Brutalism, if done well, is incredibly beautiful and imposing in a compositional sense with its massive, geometric, futuristic forms. However, having to work and live in those spaces is an entire different thing. They would probably feel hollow, dwarfing, oppressive, drab, and generally depressing. If I was to imagine what architecture I'd like to see in a socialist/post-capitalist society, I would be much more inclined to find inspiration in solarpunk: human scale, communal, eco-oriented/sustainable, humble but comfortable, natural forms and materials, mixed functions, and diverse.

[@cutiepieyoshi910]

I didn’t know you we’re making videos now! Love this! So informative ☺️

[@DamiLeeArch]

Thank you 😁 I'm happy you liked it! I'm learning as I go but it's cool.. I'm enjoying it!!

[@sayanbiswas7364]

As a concept artist, Brutalist buildings are one of my favorite types of architecture because they visualise the hubris of human civilization in a neat package. Especially when they are dirty and overgrown. Like Pripyat is just 🤌🤌🤌.

[@signalshift6676]

I like them, but they remind me of another video I've seen from you about le Corbusier. I just imagine if they had a lot of small shops, bars and resautrants, or maybe other recreational facilities build into these large open spaces. Maybe then they would feel more inviting.

[@CureSmileful]

I associate brutalism with progress, because minimal decorations suggest focus on functionality, but the unusual shapes show that we get physics enough to create them and like you said, buildings were made for people. I am probably nostalgic as well and made that association back when I was a kid. I prefer brutalist unpainted residental buildings over the painted ones too. The shell is uniformed, but the residents show their originality with interior and balcony decorations, it gives me sense of community but still with a place to be unique.

[@drewhoenigke6796]

Yeah, but progress towards what? Ornaments and conspicuously decorative functionality show mankind's ability to think and express transcendently, abstractly, etc. I agree that natural/purely functional form has, or can have, beauty in itself; but elevating unornamented work as "the true mode of design", while denigrating purposefully aesthetic work as "gaudy" and "immature" is ignorant, and the people who do so are typically persuaded by media and "authorities" rather than their own individual critique. As for progress: bland, barren buildings created with an ethic of "not hiding what they are made of" or being "not opulent or pretentious" is a little too insistent on a homogenous society. Pretty quickly this whole notion, when displayed in architecture, can look monotonous, and removes sense of personal identity. People like to wear clothes to their taste, style their hair, drive certain cars, wear makeup, chooses accessories. But all that is extra ornament, and unnecessary functionally. Yet if society was told to wear skin-tight white or grey jumpsuits that all looked the same, and could not wear makeup or have unique hair, or any of that other stuff, I don't believe they'd sense that they are expressing their true self, despite only their natural form features being highlighted. I could go on with this. I'm not gonna. I totally agree that some brutalism is beautiful. But usually that's when it defies conventional geometry of buildings. But just like how Nakashima created/ beautiful live-edge wood furniture, and numerous others imitate it very poorly and lazily, with no sense of artistry--so is it with architecture, and especially Brutalism. Some of it looks almost like naturescapes, or structures built by man in the distant future, when he's reconciled with nature. Others look like the buildings one would expect in a non-fantastic dystopia, where the building serves the same function of the government and the people: to exist, to work, to serve, and seek no higher purpose or meaning in life or the cosmos.

[@gur262]

Fuck progress then. Allmosz all modern architecture lacks decoration. And i mean the non architecture, the boring never discussed buildings that build a city. We have some 100+ years old buildings with lots of sandstone ornaments. It's better. Progress would be to build for the next 300+ years not profit and the moment. You can afford putting some decor on that

[@sirkingjamz101]

I've always had an interest in concrete buildings never really knew why, but I have noticed from region to region and country to country the aggregate being different and i think thats what attracted me most.

[@timothytooth4073]

I think I like Brutalism so much because the feeling it gives of being all about function and not caring about form. I know that is often not true and there are designs that are made that way to look a certain way. However the feeling it inspires is that "form always follows function." Growing up I always felt like things were meant to look good, even to the detriment of being usable. Brutalism is a nice juxtapose to that.

[@DimitarStanev]

Form is part of function. How aesthetics make people feel is crucial to a design.

[@sadmanh0]

brutalist buildings look nice from the outside or a distance, but actually being inside of them all the darkness just feels depressing. It's like being in a fancy sewage system.

[@jamesl9371]

No I could not learn to love these buildings. I never heard of brutalism until now but I’ve seen many ugly buildings like these and they are not only ugly but they are not pleasant to be in either. I believe buildings should be 1. Functional and do what they are built to do and 2. Be esthetically pleasing and comfortable to look at and be in

[@samlasley798]

In Liverpool, UK, our main _hospital_ is a brutalist building. I don’t think anyone enjoys looking at it

[@enbygamer]

I have never really been deep in architecture, but I always was kind of fond of brutalism for just how much of a statement their presence seemed like. Thank you for this informative video!

[@timknight68]

Your thought process, counterpoints, and observations are quite... concrete ;)

[@tlgoody]

I hate Brutalist architecture. The structures look dystopian, oppressive, and depressing. Frequently they don't allow enough light into the interior. The concrete ages poorly and then they look worse. You stated that some architects associated Brutalism with Socialism. I associate it with extremes of top-down Communism and Capitalism. The buildings look like something imposed on the public by a dictator to symbolize the power of the state.

[@christophermoody1448]

I don't know. I think that when its done right, as with any other style, brutalism can be quite compelling. The Salk Institute by Kahn is a great example.

[@anthonyberardi3611]

Enjoyed your video very much. I myself hated Brutalisum architecture when I was younger. But over time, and after experiencing this expressive form more and more, I've come to admire and even love many of the brutalist structures I've encountered.

[@DamiLeeArch]

Yeah I think it's something you learn to love over time. Many students or residents who studied or lived in brutalist buildings may disagree though 😆

[@thejontao]

Montreal had a great brutalist park. Square Viger (there is an article on Wikipedia, if you want to see it). But, as you mentioned in the video, humans don’t always respond well to bare concrete, and as a result it was not used as intended and became a hub for Montreal’s homeless community. When a hospital was recently built next door, the city used that as a reason to alter the park (although moving the homeless elsewhere was undoubtedly the true goal). The new park is yet to be unveiled. The park, and all of Montreal’s brutalist architecture, is something which very much awes me, as much for its eerie, stark beauty as for the architects’ failure to understand humans.

[@poja82]

I always loved brutalism. The chemistry tower of Strasbourg is a massive example of it and I always loved it. Nobody ever understood me