Did you know that Brutalism refers to an architectural style which came to being in the mid-20th century. This style features concrete surfaces without any finishing touches with geometric shapes.
Brutalism design has received both criticism and praise for its tough aesthetics. It is also admired for its honesty and ability to manifest the toughness and the majesty of modern architecture.
In last few years, there has been increasing curiosity about the eco-brutalism, an ecological variation of brutalism. Eco-brutalists believe that brutalism’s brutal honest aesthetic can be harnessed for the creation of both beautiful and green buildings.
What is Eco-Brutalism?
The eco-brutalism style of architecture is relatively new concept; however, it is already influencing the world of design. The eco-brutalists intend to develop structures that incorporate sustainability and beauty. Brutalism is a style that can be used to create both functional buildings and environment-friendly buildings.
The architects use different principles of sustainable design to create their eco-brutalist buildings. These principles include:
- Using recycled and reused materials
- Incorporating natural ventilation and light
- Planting green roofs and walls
- Using rainwater harvesting systems
- Solar panels and other renewable energy sources
Examples of Eco-Brutalism
Eco-brutalist buildings can be found everywhere. Here are a few notable examples:
Habitat 67: This apartment complex in Montreal, Quebec was Moshe Safdies design in 1967. The structure consists of precast concrete modules, which are combined to create numerous geometric shapes. It boasts of a green roof and a rainwater harvesting system.
Elephant House: Cedric Price and Denys Lasdun came up with a design for this zoo in London, England, in the 1960s. It consists of a number of concrete bunkers linked with ramps and bridges. They help to maintain the temperature in the building by having vegetation on top of the bunkers.
Art Villa: Formafatal designed the private residence in Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica. It consists of two concrete blocks joined by a bridge. There is a green garden around them.
The Future of Eco-Brutalism
Eco-brutalism is a promising new style of architecture that has the potential to add a major input into sustainable design. Eco-brutalists aim at designing aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly buildings. With the increasing consciousness about the need for sustainable design, more eco-brutalist buildings should be expected in the future.
What is your opinion on eco-brutalism? Do you believe it offers a sustainable architecture for the future? For more, Keep following Write for Us Architecture.