LOOKBOOKS
From a defunct resort in Croatia and a renowned bird park in Singapore to the iconic Barbican Centre in London and revolutionary monuments from the Balkans, here is a selection of images from the new book Brutalist Plants where the controversial architectural style meets nature.
By Arshan Hussain
25 August 2024
The deserted Haludovo Palace Hotel at Krk Island in Croatia. Designed by Boris Magaš | Image by Maciek Leszczelowski; Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
In common usage, the word “brutal” carries unpleasant connotations; when it comes to architecture, however, it is the prefix of a building style associated by many with truthfulness. “Brutalist” architecture (from the French “Béton brut” meaning “raw concrete”) is characterised by stripped concrete finishes, and thus a certain honesty towards building materials. The style gained prominence in the UK and much of Europe from the 1950s to the mid-1970s, before its popularity faded away.
Brutalist Plants was launched at the Barbican Centre, London, in May this year | Image by Architectonic Travels UK; Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
Lately though, Brutalist architecture has seen a resurgence on social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest, if not the drawing board. One such page @brutalistplants, which has a follower base close to 37,000 currently, celebrates buildings of this style from across the world, albeit with a twist. Its selection of pictures highlight the juxtaposition of two extremes: Brutalist buildings and the surrounding flora. Little did the page owner Olivia Broome know when she started the account six years ago that these images would eventually leap from an Instagram grid to the pages of a book one day.
Mill Owners’ Association Building at Ahmedabad, India. Designed by Le Corbusier | Image by Nathan Willock; Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
Recently published by Hoxton Mini Press, Brutalist Plants is a curated collection of 150 images, most of which are picked from Broome’s Instagram account that works by inviting and reposting relevant pictures from photographers. The pictures that made the cut to the book feature Brutalist structures — famous and abandoned — mingling with the natural life around them, creating a contrasting scenery. In some cases, these buildings were intentionally designed to be situated within a greener context, while in others, nature itself has rendered them in chlorophyllic shades.
Jurong Bird Park in Singapore. Designed by John Yealland and J. Toovey | Image by James Wong; Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
Broome’s Instagram page, as well as this new book, presents Brutalism in a new light, contributing to the ongoing trend of “eco-brutalism” — the strategy that many architects and designers are employing of introducing plants, trees, and other eco-conscious elements into existing Brutalist structures. This act is an effort to extend the relevance and longevity of these buildings in the face of the wrecking ball that many such structures have had to face in the recent past.
The Barbican Conservatory at the Barbican Centre in London. Designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon | Image by Taran Wilkhu; Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
What makes the book Brutalist Plants even more unique is that its publication marks one of the rare occasions when content from a digital space has found its way to print, rather than the usual print-to-digital movement of our times. Bringing imagery from 41 countries, the book’s pages are adorned with Brutalist structures of every typology — from a defunct resort in Croatia to a renowned bird park in Singapore; from the iconic Barbican Centre in London to revolutionary monuments from the erstwhile Soviet states, all engaged with the greenery in and around them.
Evangelische Friedenskirche (Peace Church) at Monheim-Baumberg in Germany. Designed by Walter Maria Förderer| Image by Bildarchiv Monheim GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo; Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
Casa de Vidro at São Paulo in Brazil. Designed by Lina Bo Bardi| Image by Celeste Asfour;
Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
Flipping through the pages, one can see a German church with most of its towering facade taken over by ivy, as if in a spiritual fervour. A giant tree rises from the courtyard of the house designed — and once inhabited — by the famous Italian architect Lina Bo Bardi on another page. Yet, amidst its 208 pages replete with architectural mastery, one image that comes off as truly striking is a photograph of an artwork showing a concrete slab resting on, and pierced by, seven trees.
Artwork UNTITLED, 2013 by Karsten Födinger at La Vallée, Basse-Normandie, France |
Image Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
Monument to the Revolution at the Kozara National Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina | Image by Alexey Bokov; Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
Brutalist buildings have had their share of criticism as the style began to wane. Many perceived them as cold and soulless, while others saw them as symbols of totalitarianism. But Broome’s book is an invitation to look at these buildings differently. The aesthetic pleasure of the pictures aside, the book carries a deeper message. Through its photographs and even its title, Brutalist Plants conveys the message of a harmonious cohabitation between man and nature. For those who can look closely, it takes Brutalism from its associated dystopia to a hopeful utopia.
Casa Alférez at Cañada De Alferes in Mexico | Image by Rory Gardiner; Courtesy of Hoxton Mini Press
