# What is brutalism?
**Brutalism (also called Brutalist architecture) is an architectural style that emerged in the 1950s and flourished through the 1970s, characterised by the bold use of raw, unfinished concrete (béton brut), massive sculptural forms, and an honest expression of materials and structure. The name derives from the French term “béton brut” — raw concrete — rather than from “brutal.”**
## Origins and philosophy
Brutalism grew out of the late Modernist movement, strongly influenced by the later work of Le Corbusier (particularly the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille, 1952) and the writings of British critics Alison and Peter Smithson. The style rejected decorative facades in favour of expressing a building’s function, structure, and materials without concealment.
### Key characteristics
– **Exposed concrete:** Board-marked or bush-hammered surfaces left unfinished.
– **Massive, sculptural forms:** Heavy geometric volumes assembled in striking compositions.
– **Repetitive modular elements:** Repeated window bays, balconies, or structural units.
– **Honest expression of services:** Mechanical systems and circulation often visible externally.
– **Monumental scale:** Buildings designed to make a bold civic statement.
## Notable examples
– Barbican Estate, London (Chamberlin, Powell and Bon)
– Habitat 67, Montreal (Moshe Safdie)
– National Theatre, London (Denys Lasdun)
– Trellick Tower, London (Ernő Goldfinger)
– Boston City Hall (Kallmann, McKinnell & Knowles)
## Applications
– Social housing estates and tower blocks
– Universities and educational campuses
– Government and civic buildings
– Cultural centres and theatres
– Churches and religious buildings
## Related terms
– Béton brut (raw concrete)
– Modernism
– Exposed aggregate
– Board-marked concrete
– Le Corbusier
– Post-war architecture
– Formwork
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