Christopher Beanland
Auteur van Concrete Concept: Brutalist Buildings Around the World
Werken van Christopher Beanland
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Concrete Concept: Brutalist Buildings Around the World door Christopher Beanland
https://archidose.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-review-concrete-concept-and-heroic.h...
Brutalism. You either love it or hate it, right? Not really, no. You can love it and get horrified on occasion – the two things can and will go hand in hand. It’s like the slow-mo train wreck of architecture.
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
Concrete Concepts by Christopher Beanland is a compact but very useful introduction to brutalism in architecture.
The beginning of the book covers some history and terminology, delivered with wit and expertise. From there we are shown 50 examples from around the world. Let me address a couple comments I have seen. Brutalism originated in the UK, so as a fairly short-lived trend it only makes sense that a fair number of the examples come from England. Under those circumstances 11 of the 50 being in England is not skewed all that far in that direction As for complaining that the buildings shown from a trend that originated in England didn't offer enough from the USA, well, 9 of 50 is not really neglecting the US. In other words, these examples are from all over the world and happen to include a large number from a couple of the countries that adopted the style most extensively. Not really a surprise and definitely not a weakness of the book.
I think what stood out for me, aside from some amazing buildings, was just how many similar buildings I have seen in my life (as well as the Metro in DC that I know very well). Even on some of the more unique buildings included here there are elements that reminded me of places I have been. This is just as likely because of my age as the amount of traveling and moving around I did. I do think some of the images will remind a lot of readers of places they have been. Perhaps just aspects of overhangs or walkways rather than the full blown building design, but these elements are what most easily migrated from place to place as Brutalism spread.
While I can't really say I ever really liked the style, there were some places that I thought, both at the time and now in retrospect, were attractive even if not beautiful like some other styles. Placing the movement in historical and cultural context helps the reader to appreciate things about it even while being thankful that there aren't a lot of such buildings going up right now.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (meer)
The beginning of the book covers some history and terminology, delivered with wit and expertise. From there we are shown 50 examples from around the world. Let me address a couple comments I have seen. Brutalism originated in the UK, so as a fairly short-lived trend it only makes sense that a fair number of the examples come from England. Under those circumstances 11 of the 50 being in England is not skewed all that far in that direction As for complaining that the buildings shown from a trend that originated in England didn't offer enough from the USA, well, 9 of 50 is not really neglecting the US. In other words, these examples are from all over the world and happen to include a large number from a couple of the countries that adopted the style most extensively. Not really a surprise and definitely not a weakness of the book.
I think what stood out for me, aside from some amazing buildings, was just how many similar buildings I have seen in my life (as well as the Metro in DC that I know very well). Even on some of the more unique buildings included here there are elements that reminded me of places I have been. This is just as likely because of my age as the amount of traveling and moving around I did. I do think some of the images will remind a lot of readers of places they have been. Perhaps just aspects of overhangs or walkways rather than the full blown building design, but these elements are what most easily migrated from place to place as Brutalism spread.
While I can't really say I ever really liked the style, there were some places that I thought, both at the time and now in retrospect, were attractive even if not beautiful like some other styles. Placing the movement in historical and cultural context helps the reader to appreciate things about it even while being thankful that there aren't a lot of such buildings going up right now.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (meer)
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