BRUTAL UTOPIAS LAUNCHED TO CELEBRATE BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE

Architects in Bury and elsewhere in the UK may be interested to go on a new tour of the UK being launched by the National Trust to celebrate Brutalist buildings in the country.

Dubbed Brutal Utopias, the project will feature behind-the-scenes tours of numerous buildings in cities across the UK, including the University of East England, Park Hill flats in Sheffield and London’s Southbank Centre.

In addition, guided tours will also be put on around London on board the organisation’s 1962 Routemaster Coach with cultural and architectural experts charting the visions and outcomes of this particular building style.

In a statement, the Trust said: “Love it or not, brutalism was the dominant post-war architectural movement that sought to offer the best of design to the masses through public housing schemes, new universities and venues for the arts and education that were accessible to all.”

The project starts on September 25th, with other sites due to be explored including Hayward Gallery, Purcell Room and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

On September 30th, there is also a talk being put on exploring Brutalism and asking questions such as can the style ever be beautiful and what particular architectural sites should we be protecting.

The Brutalist movement flourished between the 50s and 70s, with typical examples of this particular style featuring exposed concrete, or combinations of brickwork and concrete. It was particularly popular for university buildings, shopping centres and high-rise blocks of flats – but many buildings in this style have attracted criticism over the years.