Comment by seeeeebt
9 hours ago
Yes, Sam is probably just having a bit of fun here, but I think it's worth presenting brutalism correctly as it's often so misunderstood.
Concrete is simply the mass production medium of the time, many of the patterns and moulds used in Barbican for example feature pretty timber imprints, scalloping patterns, painstakingly pick-hammered textured panels, or pleasing swooping shapes.
Further there is always space for glass, brass, Terrazzo and lighting.
Sam's design does feel cold, unnatural and broken, definitely not what brutalist living is about.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2016/feb/22...
https://www.structuralrenovations.co.uk/portfolio/barbican-e...
https://www.barbicanliving.co.uk/barbican-story/construction...
> cold, unnatural and broken, definitely not what brutalist living is about.
This can often be the actual experience of it, though. Part of why it's so divisive. Personally I'm on the "looks great, wouldn't want to actually live there" side.
The Barbican is an example of how good it can be when properly maintained by a community. There are plenty of less prestigious examples where the community cheered their demolition.
My subjective appreciation of building materials depends essentially on how gracefully they age. I find that concrete does not age well... and dislike brutalism for this specific reason.