Iconic.
♲ Ben Higbie - 2024-04-25 14:41:57 GMT
images of the Western City Gate, aka Genex Tower in Belgrade, Serbia, designed by Mihajlo Mitrović, completed in 1979 #architecture #art #arts #design #designing #brutalist #brutalism #europe #serbia #artlover #artlovers #travel #travels #traveling #traveler #travelers #inspiration #designs #arthistory
(What will happen if we judge feasibility of a particular social network by the findings retrieved searching for random yet interesting hashtags: #tarkovsky , #brutalism , #house_of_leaves ... let's see.) #house of leaves
"In Naples, the Casa del Portuale and the Unità urbana designed by Aldo Loris Rossi, the “constructor of utopias”, still radiate hope of beauty despite the negligence."
Though I've been to that region literally half a dozen of times, I still missed this place on my list so far.
#brutalism #naples #napoli #architecture
Brutalist architecture is eye-catching and divides people at the same time - beautiful or terrible? – that’s usually the question.
The "Brutalist London Map" gives an overview of 50 of these concrete giants, including the Trellick Tower, the Barbican and the National Theatre.
The map invites us to take a tour of the British capital's brutalist beauties. It was compiled by conservator Henrietta Billings. She accompanies us on a city walk to meet residents, passers-by and Brutalism fans - and hear their views on this unique architectural style.
Ça faisait longtemps que je n'avais plus rien posté ... Samedi dernier je me suis fais une petite session #Urbex à #Nancy avec un bon ami. C'était incroyable !!
Je n'avais pas de trépieds donc je n'ai pas pu faire de poses longues mais le résultat n'est pas si mal je pense. C'est grâce à la qualité du boîtier mais aussi des possibilités offertes par Darktable ... Ce logiciel #libre est fou !
Je vous laisse avec les images, ambiance cyberpunk garantie !
Encore plus de photos urbex ici : http://denissalem.tuxfamily.org/Galerie/categories/Urbex/
#darktable #art #artlibre #libre #free #freesoftware #freeart #creative-commons #cc-by-sa #diaspoart #artwork #cityscape #nightscape #brutalism #architecture #cyberpunk #dark #underground
Same scene from back in December, but different angle and light #prague #brutalism #urban #landscape #monochrome #blackandwhite
The World Monument Fund has named the brutalist La Maison du Peuple in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, as one of the most under-threat buildings for 2022.
Located in central Ouagadougou, La Maison du Peuple was placed on the World Monument Fund's (WMF) 2022 World Monuments Watch list as it is in an "advanced state of decay" and "suffers from long-deferred maintenance and lack of legal protection".
La Maison du Peuples has been included on the World Monument fund's list of most under-threat buildings
Opened in 1965, the 2,500-seat theatre, which was designed by French architect René Faublée, is considered an exemplar of modernist architecture in Africa.
"[It is] the finest example of modernist architecture in Burkina Faso and one of the most important examples of modernism in Africa," said Burkinabe architect Diébédo Francis Kéré.
"Powerful architectural statement of post-colonial cultural identity"
Built as a civic centre and seat of governance in Burkina Faso's new capital city following the country's independence from France, the building combines elements of brutalist architecture with local colours and motifs.
Its concrete facade mimics the colour of the surrounding ground, while it is topped with whimsical lanterns that allow light and air into the building's main auditorium and were designed to recall traditional Mossi architecture.
[ 
](https://www.dezeen.com/2021/03/24/architecture-highlights-western-africa-atlantic-ocean-the-sahel/)
After years of neglect, the building's fabric is rapidly deteriorating.
"Combining modernist and brutalist influences with local vernacular architecture, the building is a powerful architectural statement of post-colonial cultural identity and democratic self-determination, and a noteworthy – but frequently overlooked – example of global architectural history," said World Monument Fund project manager Javier Ors Ausí.
The building is under threat after years of neglect
"Due to long-deferred maintenance and lack of legal protection, the site has fallen into a state of advanced decay that threatens the integrity and usability of the structure," he told Dezeen.
"Based on preliminary information provided by our local partners, we know that the structure suffers from a certain level of deterioration due to lack of resources for proper maintenance, which is needed to protect against weather conditions and pollution."
"Underrecognized chapter of African architectural history"
The World Monument Fund placed it on its 2022 watchlist to draw attention to the building's situation and help fund a "rigorous assessment" of the condition of the building and future renovation works.
"It was included on the 2022 World Monuments Watch to bring attention to an underrecognized chapter of African architectural history and support local efforts to sustainably reuse the site so it may continue to serve future generations," said Ausí.
"We hope that the site's inclusion on the Watch will attract the funds necessary for a rigorous physical assessment of the building and subsequent conservation work, as well as the development of a sustainable reuse plan."
In recent years numerous brutalist buildings around the world have been lost, often to demolition, including Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in the UK by British architects Peter and Alison Smithson.
The post One of "most important examples of modernism in Africa" under threat appeared first on Dezeen.
#all #architecture #news #worldmonumentsfund #brutalism #burkinafaso
Belgian studio Studio Okami Architecten has renovated a duplex apartment in the brutalist Riverside Tower in Antwerp, allowing its original concrete structure to take centre stage.
The project was led by and designed for Bram Van Cauter, founding partner of Studio Okami Architecten, who lives there with his partner, art collector Doris Vanistendael.
Studio Okami Architecten has renovated a duplex apartment in Antwerp
Riverside Tower is a 20-storey apartment building positioned in the bend of the river Scheldt, completed by architects Leon Stynen & Paul De Meyer in the 1970s.
The 230-square-metre apartment is on the thirteenth and fourteenth floors of the building, three storeys above the Studio Okami Architecten office. The couple also owns a duplex in the same building, which contains a guest suite and Vanistendael's art gallery named Soon.
The apartment is located in the brutalist Riverside Tower
Studio Okami Architecten's first step of the renovation was to tear down the walls of the apartment and strip away all the surface coverings.
While revealing the concrete structure of the apartment, this transformed its layout from a five-bedroom dwelling to a lofty open-plan space with a single bedroom.
All of its concrete surfaces were exposed
"With the Riverside Tower being a brutalist building, it seemed logical to strip the apartment to the bare concrete, showing the space in its most honest and raw form," Van Cauter told Dezeen.
"Removing the walls allows for unobstructed views over the city," the architect added. "Being childfree, an open-plan space was a logical choice."
A sculptural kitchen island was added. Photo is by Matthijs van der Burgt
A few brick walls in the dwelling were retained but covered with cement mixed with small stones, creating a finish that matches the original concrete structure.
To counterbalance the rough concrete surfaces, a peach-hued resin floor has been added alongside plants and artworks hung from existing holes in the concrete.
A pastel blue staircase links the two floors of the duplex
"The aim was to balance out the rough concrete by adding colourful elements to the space," Van Cauter explained. "The artworks, furniture and plants all combine to create a homey atmosphere."
Double-height pivoting windows also brighten the space by providing natural light and views out over the river and a neighbouring forest.
Pops of colour contrast with the concrete
On the lower floor of the apartment is an open-plan kitchen and dining area. Above it is the living room, bedroom and home office.
The apartment's upper level, which is intended to feel more secluded than the floor below, is arranged around a technical block containing the bathroom, storage and utility facilities.
The upper level contains more private spaces
"The duplex setup creates a special division between the downstairs entertainment area and the more private upstairs functions like a home office, living and bedroom," Van Cauter explained.
Linking the two levels is a pastel blue spiral staircase, chosen to stand out against the concrete. It was welded and painted in place due to the limited size of the tower's circulation areas.
[ 
](https://www.dezeen.com/2021/11/23/roseneath-street-apartment-studio-goss/)
The pastel colour palette continues in the bathroom, which is lined with smooth peach pink surfaces.
These surfaces ensure the bathroom is watertight, but they also create a sharp contrast with the rough concrete beams overhead.
Rietveld Crate Chairs are among the furnishings
Studio Okami Architecten chose a mixture of contemporary vintage furnishings to complete the apartment. Among the classic furniture are the patchwork De Sede DS88 sofa and Rietveld Crate Chairs, while contemporary pieces include a Long Table by Muller Van Severen and a red Bold chair by Big-Game.
There are also a series of bespoke elements, including the kitchen island, designed by Studio Okami Architecten to resemble "a sculpture in the room when out of use". This is teamed with cabinetry that references the work of American artist Donald Judd.
A pastel pink bathroom features upstairs
Other apartment renovations featured on Dezeen that are located in brutalist buildings include a New York residence by General Assembly in a 1970s tower block and a flat at the Barbican estate in London that Takero Shimazaki Architects infused with Japanese details.
Alongside the Riverside Tower apartment renovation, Studio Okami Architecten also recently completed a brick and concrete home that is embedded into a sloping hillside in Belgium.
The photography is byOlmo Peeters unless stated.
The post Studio Okami Architecten exposes brutalist skeleton of Antwerp apartment appeared first on Dezeen.
#all #interiors #residential #apartments #concrete #belgium #antwerp #renovations #brutalism #studiookamiarchitecten
Burwell Architects has refurbished a Brutalist icon that houses a legal research centre for the University of London, improving the existing library and workplace facilities while retaining the Grade II-listed structure's original aesthetic.
The university's Institute of Advanced Legal Studies occupies several floors of Charles Clore House, which is part of the Bedford Way complex completed by renowned British architect Denys Lasdun in 1976.
The renovation of Denys Lasdun's Charles Clore House was completed by Burwell Architects
The building, which overlooks Russell Square in the heart of Bloomsbury, is home to the IALS Library, which is considered to be one of the world's leading legal research libraries.
Burwell Architects, which has offices in London and Exeter, was commissioned to oversee a multi-phase programme of works aimed at ensuring the library is able to meet the evolving needs of the global legal research community.
The refurbishment preserved the original mid-century features
The modernisation of Charles Clore House preserves the building's form and sensitively upgrades the interior to improve its comfort, accessibility, security and environmental performance.
"The necessary improvements to the mid 20th-century building fabric and services presented the opportunity to appraise the existing internal arrangements and re-align these with the culture and needs of end users for the 21st century," said Burwell Architects director Christopher Gilbert.
The research centre is located across the second, third, fourth and fifth levels of the building
The main interventions involved reorganising the library, administration and academic research spaces to take advantage of views towards Russell Square and the surrounding neighbourhood.
The existing library entrance was moved from the fourth to the second floor and reoriented so it overlooks the square.
[ 
](https://www.dezeen.com/2020/12/21/ben-allen-apartment-interiors-east-london/)
The architects also upgraded the library's study facilities to include private rooms, meeting rooms and informal spaces for group study that are positioned within the circulation areas.
The previous cellular arrangement of the administrative spaces was replanned to create a more open layout that promotes interaction and collaboration.
The studio rearranged the floor plan to improve the layout
Upgrades to the building's services and infrastructure include the addition of an external lift next to the main entrance. Issues such as traffic noise and overheating in summer were also addressed to make the interior spaces more practical and comfortable.
New interventions utilise materials including anodised aluminium, painted metal, stained timber, fabrics and period colours that were carefully chosen to complement the existing features.
"We developed a materials palette that is intended to reinforce and update the original Lasdun feel," claimed Gilbert, "while elsewhere sensitive repairs were carried out to remove accumulated fittings from several decades of use and maximise the contribution of the fine concrete finishes."
The interior was sensitively updated to suit modern use
The project's planning and implementation was spread over a period of five years, with a phased delivery strategy allowing the improvements to be carried out without disrupting the building's daily operations.
Denys Lasdun was responsible for several brutalist landmarks in central London, including the Keeling House apartment building in Bethnal Green, and the Royal College of Physicians building in Regent's Park. His signature style combined cubic forms, exposed concrete, long perspectives and open, cantilevered forms.
Materials were specifically chosen to complement the Brutalist architecture
He is best known as the architect of the Royal National Theatre on the South Bank of the Thames, which architecture firm Haworth Tompkins refurbished in 2015, adding a new aluminium-clad production facility that complements the existing building.
Architect Ben Allen renovated his own two-storey apartment in Keeling House in 2020, adding mirrored furniture and artworks by Olafur Eliasson to the bright interior.
The photography is byBen Blossom.
The post Burwell Architects completes renovation of Denys Lasdun's Charles Clore House appeared first on Dezeen.
#all #architecture #education #london #uk #universities #brutalism #midcenturyrenovations #refurbishments
No, this isn't an illustration, but a photo of Avala tower's base in Belgrade
#belgrade #photo #brutalism #architecture #avala #avalatower #tower
Torre Piacentini (Piacentini tower) in Via Dante, Genova.
108 meter, 31 floors, bult from 1935 to 1940
Photo of '40.
#tower #genova #genua #genoa #zena #italiantower #architecture #brutalism #razionalismo #italianarchitecture #skyscraper #italianskyscraper
