The document discusses the architectural style of Brutalism. It provides details on the origins and key characteristics of Brutalism, noting its emphasis on raw concrete and modular elements. Several prominent Brutalist architects and notable buildings in the style are mentioned, such as the Hunstanton School and Balfron Tower. The document also summarizes the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Bangladesh, a legislative building designed by Louis Kahn in the Brutalist style, describing its layout and use of concrete, marble, and daylight.
2. INTRODUCTION
HISTORY
EXISTENCE
FEATURES
FAMOUS ARCHITECTS
CASE STUDY: JATIYA SANGSAD BHABAN
LOCATION
DESCRIPTION
PLAN
THE BHABHAN (MAIN BUILDING) DESIGN
THE MAIN PLAZA
THE SOUTH PLAZA
PRESIDENTIAL PLAZA
SECTION
3. Brutalism is a post-war architectural style.
It descended from modernism and was most popular during the 1950s to the mid-70s.
Examples of brutalist architecture can be found across Europe, and in the United
States, Australia, Israel, Japan, and Brazil.
One of the most defining features of this look is the use of raw concrete that makes the
building appear as though it consists of many identical modular elements.
Brutalism is a 20th century architectural and artistic movement that emphasizes bold,
confrontational and bulky buildings which communicate strength, functionality and
power.
The term brutalism evolved from the French word brut, meaning “raw”.
4. First used in an architectural context by Swedish architect Hans
Asplund in 1950 who discussed nybrutalism (new Brutalism).
In 1954, Reyner Banham used the term more widely in his
writings to refer to the work of English architects Alison and
Peter Smithson who created the iconic Hunstanton School in
Norfolk and later the Robin Hood Gardens in Poplar, east
London.
The term brutalism came to refer to the functional raw concrete
buildings emerging in the UK, and London in particular, in the
post-war period.
Due to the relatively low cost of concrete, Brutalism was popular
for rebuilding government buildings and providing social
housing in the period of social solidarity following the Second
World War.
5. Initially popular with government and institutional buildings, the movement
experienced the majority of its success from the 1950s to the 1970s.
It was heralded by the younger generation as a reaction against certain qualities of
pre-World War II architecture—primarily its lightness and optimism. Brutalism, or
New Brutalism as it was sometimes referred to, has its roots in modernism but
emerged as a movement against the architectural mainstream.
It placed an emphasis on materials, textures and construction as well as
functionality and equality.
7. IIM AHMEDABAD
Small windows in
relation to other parts
Brick and Stone Work
Heavy looking materials
Rough Unfinished Surface
8. Le Corbusier Sir Basil Spence Sir Denys Lasdun
Unite d’Habitation in Marseilles
• Used raw concrete and is seen
as an early example of
Brutalism.
Coventry Cathedral
• Constructed of red sandstone.
• Projecting out are the circular
Chapel of Unity and the Chapel of
Industry.
• Zigzag walls let angled windows
direct light down the nave towards
the altar.
• Large artworks commissioned by
Spence include the baptistery
window stained glass
20 Bedford Way in Bloomsbury
• Used rough textures in his
concrete forms, in
particular wood ‘shuttering’
from when the concrete was
cast in situ.
9. Ernö Goldfinger Peter and Alison Smithson
Balfron Tower in east London
• Composition of volumes
Hunstanton Secondary Modern School in Norfolk
• External steel frame.
• Structural frame, welded on-site to make a continuous
plastic structure to save steel.
• The standard sections, though large and in short
supply, were relatively cheap.
• The brick end walls brace the structure, and inside all
the finishes and pipes are exposed.
11. Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Lake road to the North.
Manik Mia Avenue to the
South.
Rokeya Sarani to the East.
Mirpur Road to the West.
12. Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban
is the National Assembly
Building of Bangladesh,
located in the capital
Dhaka.
It was created by
Architect Louis Kahn
and is one of the largest
legislative complexes in
the world.
Construction was started
in 1961 and complete by
1982.
It houses all
parliamentary activities of
Bangladesh.
13. The architect drew upon and
assimilated both the vernacular
and monumental archetypes of
the region, and abstracted and
transformed, to a degree of
utter purity, lasting architectural
ideas from many eras and
civilisations
The core of the composition is
the assembly chamber, a 300-
seat, 30-meters high, domed
amphitheatre and the library
These spaces alternate among
eight "light and air courts"
and a restaurant, as well as
entrances to the garden and
mosque.
Built of rough-shuttered,
poured-in-place concrete, the
walls are inlaid with bands of
white marble.
14. The main building (the
Bhaban) is divided into
three parts:
- The Main Plaza
- South Plaza
- Presidential Plaza
The main building is at
the center of the complex.
The outer parts of the
complex include the MP
hostel.
An intricately designed
lake surrounds the main
building.
15. The Bhaban consists of
• nine individual blocks:
• the eight peripheral blocks rise
to a height of 110' ,while
• the central octagonal block
rises to a height of 155'.
All nine blocks include different
groups of functional spaces and
have different levels, inter-
linked horizontally and
vertically by corridors, lifts,
stairs, light courts, and
circular areas.
The entire structure is designed
to blend into one single, non-
differentiable unit, that appears
from the exterior to be a single
story.
16. Two podiums and two
galleries for VIP visitors.
The Chamber has a
maximum height of 117' with
a parabolic shell roof.
The roof was designed with a
clearance of a single story to
let in daylight.
Daylight, reflecting from the
surrounding walls and
octagonal drum, filters into
the Parliament Chamber.
The artificial lighting system
has been carefully devised to
provide zero obstruction to
the entry of daylight.
17. The South Plaza faces the
Manik Mia Avenue.
It gradually rises to a 20' height
and serves as a beautiful exterior
as well as the main entrance
(used by members during
sessions) to the Parliament
Building.
18. The Presidential Plaza lies to
the North and faces the Lake
Road.
It functions as an intimate
plaza for the MPs and other
dignitaries.
It contains marble steps, a
gallery and an open
pavement.