22 August, 2016

The Best of Brazilian Brutalism

Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião, Image via Wikipedia

Derived from the French word “brut”, Brutalism is a style of architecture made famous by French builder Le Corbusier. The designer, who often used béton brut (raw concrete) in his work, coined the term as a way to describe his imposing creations. Famous for its hard lines, unpretentious materials and overall dystopian appearances, the style has become a polarising architectural movement that observers either love or hate. Born as an economical and efficient solution to the destruction caused by world war two, it flourished from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. Though critics claim the period resulted in many uncreative and uninspired structures, the arduous history of Brutalism is a testament to its architects’ abilities in creating such brilliant work with limited resources.
Despite prominence in several countries around the world, Brazil houses some of the world’s most recognised Brutalist masterpieces. In celebration of this year’s Olympic games in Rio, here are 10 of our favourite Brutalist buildings in the South American country.

Museu de Arte de São Paulo, Image via Wikipedia