Why Dystopia loves BRUTALISM
As fiction and reality go hand in hand, sometimes elements from the real world latch on to a type of genre in such a way that we can’t imagine one without the other. Just as Gothic architecture is synonymous with the horror genre same can be said for the brutalist architecture for Dystopia
BRUTALISM coming from B’eton Brut meaning raw concrete and not BRUTAL though it is exactly how people perceive it — cruel, harsh, brutal. It's BRUTAL in all caps and which is why it is the number one choice to show a cruel future where humanity and hope seem to be lost and what is left is just a society trying to survive. A Dystopian future where technology and innovation don’t necessarily improve the living condition but provides an escape from the demented reality. A future where survival is more important than humanity itself and due to this the elements of the future are just faded in the background, therefore an architecture such as brutalism provides a perfect minimal background for the genre that already has a lot going on for itself
Dystopian future whether it is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic has a history of suffering and endurance. It provides a blank canvas and doesn’t draw any attention to itself. There are no shiny glass towers here nor any details showing art, culture, or even character. Just simple geometric shapes, Repetitive patterns, solid borders, and almost no distinct color scheme. piled-up slabs of raw, unfinished concrete. most modern buildings appear to be made of whitewash or patent glazing, even when they are made of concrete or steel.
This doesn’t mean that the brutalist buildings don’t have a character. Brutalism is a style with an emphasis on materials, textures, and construction, producing highly expressive forms with unusual shapes creating a sense of mass, weight, and scale. The brutalist exterior is all about heaviness. Their expression of structure with the use of varied or contrasting textures and materials create a memorable and powerful image. The building allows its residents to become gradually uninterested in the outside world
In today’s world, however, Brutalism fell out of favor. Part of this was due to the cold and austere nature of the architecture, which was often associated with totalitarianism. Another mark against Brutalism was that the raw concrete used in construction didn’t age well, often showing signs of water damage and decay that brought down the overall aesthetic. The style’s many scattered examples have suffered from age and neglect, their walls crumbling and leaking, threatened everywhere with demolition. Another reason can be the inhuman design which ranges from small windows to harsh textures and materials.
In the end, Brutalism is cold. It shows but does not flaunt oppression. Buildings looking like fortresses and with its rugged unfinished concrete looking industrial, bleak, something that doesn’t compromise. The gigantic, imposing, bomb shelter looking buildings seem almost “soulless”. And that is exactly why we can’t imagine a dystopia without it.