Arts & Culture
How Brutalism in Architecture Expresses Institutional Power and Social Ideals
Quick fact
The Barbican Estate in London, a flagship brutalist housing complex, was built over 15 years and now houses thousands of residents, yet it was initially nicknamed a 'concrete jungle' by critics.
Why this is interesting
You've probably seen a brutalist building—a massive, gray concrete block—and felt both awe and unease. Why do these structures, designed to create a better society, often look and feel so imposing?