BRUTALISM
INTRODUCTION
Created by LE CORBUSIER and fellow architects
MIES VAN-DE-ROHE and F. L. WRIGHT
Named by PETER and ALLISON SMITHSON in 1954
Flourished from 1950s to mid 1970s
Typically large buildings, massive in character,
fortresslike, with a predominance of exposed concrete
construction.
Critics find it unappealing due to its old
appearance
An undeniably honest approach to
architecture that demanded form follow
function and avoided unnecessary flourishes.
The Brutalist approach was all about
showing off the materials from which the
building was made (inevitably concrete),
about sharp angles, rough surfacing and
exposed services.
CHARACTERISTICS
Strong bold shapes
composed.
Reinforced concrete
structures expressed.
Largeness of
scale, strong,
muscular
character.
Brick work and
stone .
Large area of
blank
wallform
Off
concrete
construction.
Diagonal, slopping
or strong curved
elements contrasting
with horizontal and
vertical members.
LE CORBUSIER
I prefer drawing to talking. Drawing is faster and
leaves less room for lies.
UNITE DHABITATION
The Unite d'Habitation , (Housing Unit)
is the housing design principle developed
by Le Corbusier.
The first and most famous of these
buildings, also known as Cite radiuses
(radiant city) and, is located in Marseille,
France.
Built between 1947 and 1952.
The building is constructed in beton brut
( rough- cast concrete).
Building developed with Corbusiers
designers Shadrach Woods, George Candilis,
comprises 337 apartments arranged over
twelve stories, all suspended on large pilot .
Inside, corridors run through the centre of
the long axis of every third floor of the
building, with each apartment lying on two
levels, and stretching from one side of the
building to the other, with a balcony.
The flat roof is designed as a communal
terrace with sculptural ventilation stacks, a
running track, and a shallow paddling pool for
children.
Notre-Dame-du-haut Ronchamp
The chapel completed in 1954.
Is one of the finest examples of the
architect Le Corbusier.
The structure is made mostly of concrete
and is comparatively small, enclosed by thick
walls, with the upturned roof supported on
columns embedded within the walls, like a sail
billowing in the windy currents on the hill top.
The structure is built mostly of concrete and
stone. Some have described Ronchamp as
the first Post-Modern building. It was
constructed in the early 1950s.
The different-sized windows are scattered in
an irregular pattern across the wall.
The glass that closes the windows off is set
at alternating depths. This glass is sometimes
clear, but is often decorated with small pieces
of stained glass in typical Corbusier colours :
red, green, and yellow.
Small pieces of stained glass are set deep
within the walls, which are sometimes ten feet
thick.
The glass glows likes deep-set rubies and
emeralds and amethysts and jewels of all
The roof of Notre Dame du Haut appears to
float above the walls .
This is possible, because it is supported by
concrete columns, not the walls themselves.
This billowing concrete roof was planned to
slope toward the back, where a fountain of
abstract forms is placed on the ground.
When it rains, the water comes pouring off
the roof and down onto the raised, slanted
concrete structures, creating a dramatic
natural fountain.
LOUIS KAHN
It was not belief, not design, not pattern ,but the
essence from which an institution could emerge
JATIYO SANGSAD BHAVAN
Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban or National Parliament House, is
the house of the Parliament of Bangladesh.
Located at Sher e-Bangla Nagar in the Bangladeshi
capital of Dhaka.
Designed by architect Louis Kahn .
Louis Kahn designed the entire Jatiyo Sangsad complex,
which includes lawns, lake and residences for the
Members of the Parliament (MPs).
The architects key design philosophy was to represent
Bangladeshi culture and heritage.
Location and basic layout
The enclave, situated in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, is
bounded by four major streets:
Lake Road to the North;
Rokeya Sarani to the East;
Manik Mia Avenue to the South; and
Mirpur Road to the West
The main building (the Bhaban) is divided into
three parts:
The Main Plaza: 823,000 square feet
South Plaza: 223,000 square feet
Presidential Plaza: 65,000 square feet
Design Philosophy
In the assembly he had
introduced a light-giving
element to the interior of the
plan.
If we see a series of
columns we can say that the
choice of columns is a choice
in light.
The columns as solids
frame the spaces of light.
The Main Building
The Bhavan consists of
nine individual blocks:
the eight peripheral
blocks rise to a height of
110' while the central
octagonal block rises to a
height of 155'.
All nine blocks include
different groups of
functional spaces and
have different levels,
inter-linked horizontally
and vertically by corridors,
The Main Plaza
The most important part of the Main Plaza is the
Parliament Chamber.
The Chamber has a maximum height of 117'
with a parabolic shell roof.
The roof was designed with a clearance of a
single story to let in daylight.
Daylight, reflecting from the surrounding walls
and octagonal drum, filters into the Parliament
Chamber.
The efficient and aesthetic use of light was a
The South Plaza
The South Plaza
faces the Manik Mia
Avenue.
It gradually rises
to a 20' height and
serves as a beautiful
exterior as well as
the main entrance
(used by members
during sessions) to
the Parliament
Building
Presidential Plaza
The Presidential Plaza lies to the North and
faces the Lake Road.
It functions as an intimate plaza for the MPs
and other dignitaries. It contains marble steps,
a gallery and an open pavement
