Examples & Best Practices of Brutalism in Web Design
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Budapest Park succeeds with an unorthodox brutalist design that still effectively communicates information. Brutalist websites can take many different forms — from basic and unadorned, to the more ostentatious. Let's take a look at a variety of website examples that fall within the spectrum of brutalism. Brutalism may be about breaking the rules, but there are some common elements we can observe across the many brutalist web designs out there. News from Dezeen Events Guide, a listings guide covering the leading design-related events taking place around the world.
What is brutalist interior design? An expert guide to this distinctive look - Homes & Gardens
What is brutalist interior design? An expert guide to this distinctive look .
Posted: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 20:00:58 GMT [source]
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The concept of "streets in the sky" was an architectural feature of Brutalism that became popular in the 1960s, involving the use of elevated walkways connecting raised apartment buildings to create a sense of neighborhood. An early example of their use was in the Smithsons' design for Golden Lane Estate (1952), an unbuilt project, which became the model for their Robin Hood Gardens in London ( ). The Smithsons' friend Eduardo Paolozzi was also in contact with the French artist Jean Dubuffet, and Peter Smithson noted that at the core of Brutalism was "the materiality thing" originating in Dubuffet's Art Brut. Dubuffet coined the term "Art Brut" to define art created outside of the established art-world, notably by self-taught artists, children, and the mentally ill. His own work was known for its often-shocking emphasis on the brute physicality of the body, and its use of raw textures and primitive formal likenesses. The Parallel of Life and Art exhibition included one of Dubuffet's works from his Corps de Dames series ( ) as well as prints, photographs, video, architectural designs, and artwork by Richard Hamilton, William Turnbull, Magda Cordell, and Jean Dubuffet.
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These elements are also found in renovations of older Brutalist buildings, such as the redevelopment of Sheffield's Park Hill. It’s more of a punk mindset whereas brutalism tends to have its roots in efficiency and functionality. Sometimes what makes a design brutalist or not comes down to intention, but the heart-stopping emotion it elicits often remains the same. A recurring feature of classic brutalism is the imposing nature of its giant, stone buildings.
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In Russia, these standardized complexes were referred to as "Panelki" ('panel buildings') as they were composed of prefabricated concrete panels - unfortunately, they became known for their shoddy and sometimes never completed amenities. By the 1970s, however, brutalism lost its edge and many of these monolithic, gravity-defying structures (such as Alison and Peter Smithson's Robin Hood Gardens housing project in East London, which was completed in 1972), were demolished. Concrete doesn't age well, writes My Modern Met, and just like its weathered aesthetic, the material took on a negative connotation of urban decay and economic failure. "The irony is that Brutalism was born out of utopian idealism. The style’s progenitors—Peter and Alison Smithson, Le Corbusier, Moshe Safdie—shared a commitment to social welfare through architecture," counters an article in Flux magazine. Popular in the 1960s and 1970s (though as early as the 1940s, according to T, The New York Times magazine), brutalism originated post–World War II when the design of low-cost housing and government buildings were composed of mainly raw, unrefined materials. Culturally and economically speaking, nations around the world—from Europe to South America—were looking to rebuild after the war.
“I noticed more and more interest in brutalist architecture,” she says. “People were excited about it and loved the graphic quality of it.” The hashtag #brutalism has over 500,000 images and conservation groups are increasingly trying to save examples of Brutalism, which are all too often demolished without a second thought. Countless Brutalist buildings have been torn down since the style went out of fashion in the '80s. While some consider them eyesores, many others believe that their destruction is both losing a piece of history and losing a piece of beautiful architecture. Still, many examples of Brutalism can still be found throughout the world, especially in London and notable American and Canadian cities. In the case of architecture, there's no architectural style that exemplifies this principle better than Brutalism.
Brutalist design’s nostalgic qualities and retro appeal have resonated with a younger generation, drawn to its mid-century modernism influences and timeless aesthetic. Additionally, contemporary artists and designers have blended Brutalist elements with other styles like minimalism, industrial design, and modern architecture, creating fresh and unique expressions. Choui also identifies “the uncompromising celebration of raw materials and the transparent integrity in its construction” as defining characteristics of Brutalist design.
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“Many Brutalist interiors lacked interior finishes like drywall, tile, and paint, and just exposed the structure of the building, considering that to be an 'honest' expression,” says Reggev. A central desire for honesty resulted in leaving structural materials like concrete exposed and unadorned. But it also manifested a preference for bringing in natural and authentic elements, rather than materials representing something they're not (Reggev uses faux wood painting as an example).
Web brutalism is beginning to take on a new meaning, quite different from the spirit of the architectural movement. Rather than just focusing on stripped-down UIs with raw or nonexistent styling, some designers interpret brutalism to mean rebelling against oversimplified design by intentionally creating ugly, disorienting, or complex interfaces. Brutalism in digital design is a style that intentionally attempts to look raw, haphazard, or unadorned. It echoes early 1990s-style websites (think Craigslist and the Drudge Report).
"Funny enough, it has nothing to do with the criticism of the style as being "brutal," Rogers says, adding that brutalism derives from the French phrase béton brut, which translates as "raw concrete." In the meantime, Brutalist design also influenced residential architecture, with architects like Marcel Breuer (who straddled the Bauhaus design and Brutalist design movements) building clusters of homes in Connecticut and Massachusetts. What's unique about Brutalist design is its expression through simple materials.
Raw concrete made the perfect canvas for graffiti artists, whose vandalism only contributed to the decline of these structures. Throughout the 1980s, the style gave way to the High-tech architecture and Deconstructivism, which would make way for Post-Modern architecture. While brutalist websites might not have the megalithic and severe presences that brutalist buildings do, they are constructed in a similar fashion using the raw materials of the web. "Brutalism is an expressive architecture style that realizes bold forms by emphasizing construction, textures, and raw, exposed materials such as concrete." In the game, players navigate a secretive bureaucratic office complex known as the Oldest House.
King and Mattioli also point out that brutalism extends beyond architecture and interiors—a piece of furniture or decor can also bring a more subtle brutalist-inspired touch to a space. Mattioli makes a three-legged steel stool, for example, whereas King has a fondness for working with a Le Corbusier concrete lamp or a Rick Owens bronze table. (Owens, by the way, has his own brutalist-style home in Concordia, Italy.) Concrete floors too are often microtopped—or covered with a coating that gives them an elegant sheen. One of the most notable examples of Brutalist architecture at UCSD is the Gilman Drive Parking Structure, located on the university’s main campus in La Jolla. Designed by the architectural firm Moore, Ruble, and Yudell, the Gilman Drive Parking Structure was completed in 1970 and is a prime example of the Brutalist style. The building features large, sweeping concrete forms, an emphasis on raw materials and construction techniques, and innovative use of space, all of which are hallmarks of Brutalism.
The Unité d'Habitation in Marseilles, France was his first project in 10 years, World War II having interrupted his practice. Completed in 1952 and created as housing for the working class, Le Corbusier's design called for a giant reinforced concrete framework fit with modular apartments. The mammoth complex, which could house up to 1,600 people, was largely devoid of decorative elements and laid the framework for future Brutalist projects. When it comes to Brutalist design, Alison and Peter Smithson were among the style’s earliest adopters and prominent leaders in British Brutalism.
Bloomberg, for example, has stripped back to these basic elements of communication, foregrounding information and eschewing decoration. Their site also uses a combination of black, white and “hyperlink” blue, which evokes the early days of the web, and in this sense uses one of the web’s “raw” materials. Brutalist web design often includes repeating shapes or patterns, used in a modular or grid-based way, channeling the characteristic geometry of Brutalist architecture.
This guide is like a friendly tour to help you understand what Neo brutalism is all about. Whether you’re already good at designing or just starting, we’ll show you how Neo brutalism can make your designs stand out, be easy to use, and look different from what you’re used to. In this beginner’s guide, we will explore Neobrutalism design in detail so that you can also start your next project with this. Remember, consistency is key with branding, so if you're not ready to commit to neo-brutalism on all digital touchpoints, you may be better off skipping it.
It can be a good option if you are looking for a way to stand out from the sea of landing pages, hero images, and highly stylized calls-to-action, in favor of something more honest and straightforward. There are a number of sites that strive for a kind of honesty in their materials. In essence, a website is a vehicle for communication using text and images. To achieve this, some designers might utilize a sans serif font, while others might bring in something even more jarring...like Comic Sans. A Brutalist-inspired residence designed by Geddes Ulinskas Architects. However, this rule-bending design technique isn’t always well-received, no matter how closely you follow its basic principles.
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