London's striking Brutalist Architecture

Modernist architectural movement came about in 1950 to 1970 and the world of architecture was forever changed. That is until the Brutalism architecture emerged in its shadows. Making its mark almost immediately, Brutalist architecture was inspired by the early work of renowned Swiss architect Le Corbusier. His architecture brought about his own unique and unwaivering style to the heart of the architectural movement. The work of the Le Corbusier was brazen and forged the Brutalist architecture movement as warp speeds. The Brutalist movement is largely accredited to Le Corbusier's Unité d'Habitation(1952) and the Secretariat Building in Chandigarh, India (1953) creations. Le Corbusier described his bold work as French béton brut, or "raw concrete." From his description the term for an entire architectural movement was spawn.

Brutalist architecture became mainstream when the term was referred to in the title of a 1954 book written by British architectural critic Reyner Banham. Stunning angular shapes formed the exterior and facade of these very original buildings. Rough surfaces from poured concrete became the signature look of the Brutalist architecture buildings of its day. Uniformed blocky buildings built at that time took over the skylines of many cities determined to incorporate the sensation style and boldness that Brutalist architecture brought to life. Most buildings built with the exposed concrete facade were considered Brutalist architecture. Buildings like some famous London hotels and the Boston City Hall built in 1962, stood as proud examples of the impressionable architectural movement that swept across the nation. As the popularity of the Brutalist in architecture movement soon translated into the building structures of private homes.

The validity of the Brutalist architecture movement was undeniable. Mainstream that embraced Brutalist as rough and raw architectural theme could not have predicted the long-term impact the movement had on a changing society. Brutalism fast became the symbol of social utopian ideology. The decline of urban communities in the UK impacted the Brutalist architectural movement shortly after World War II. Initialy, Brutalism was used as an easy and expensive solution for war torn communities to rebuild in the UK after World War II. Brutalist communities emerged everywhere overnight offering mainly low-cost housing and commercial property options for shops and government buildings. In the end, the utopian ideology like Brutalist architecture lost its luster. Both movements found themselves the source of negative backlash. The turnaround seemed inevitable was partly due to the strain on society and the ever changing urban community.