A recent trip to one of Central London's most controversial structures that divide Londoners opinions frequently made me realise. What is Brutalist Architecture?

Around a month ago, I visited the Barbican Centre for a photoshoot. Chamberlin, Powell, and Bon designed it, and it completed in the 1970s. The complex consists of residential towers, a performing arts centre, and a public area that are distinguished by their enormous concrete exterior and network of pathways connecting them. 

One person I interviewed who wants to be an architecture major described brutalist architecture as bland and an eyesore". When I asked what improvements could be made he stated that:

bland and an eyesore. A renovation and a makeover could be done. With it being in the heart of London, it just seems like it is a waste of space but the history of the structure is a nice backstory.

During the 1960's, brutalist architecture—which emphasised functionality—started to appear in the United Kingdom. It stood out by its use of raw concrete and clear geometric forms. The movement aimed to develop sturdy, functional structures, motivated by modernist ideals and the demands of post-war reconstruction.

The 1976 completion of Sir Denys Lasdun's design for the Royal National Theatre in London makes it one of the most notable and early examples of Brutalist architecture in the Union. The movement's aesthetic values are reflected in its massive concrete construction with its jagged corners and textured surfaces.

A fresh understanding of the unique contribution that brutalism made to the UK's architectural landscape can be seen in the updates made to structures like the National Theatre and the Barbican Estate in order to preserve its cultural and historical significance.