Brutalism Is Back: Designing Homes With Drama

Source: Sotheby’s

The powerful architecture style is inspiring a new generation of luxury buyers and contemporary builds, writes Riya Patel

Architecture is enjoying another big-screen moment, thanks to “The Brutalist.” Brady Corbet’s epic movie has collected prestigious wins this awards season, not least for its lead actor, Adrien Brody, as the fictional Bauhaus-trained architect László Tóth. For filmmakers, the appeal of Brutalism—the bold architecture style characterized by monumental concrete forms—is clear to see. These head-turning hulks, which first emerged in the early 1950s, were made for drama.

“The reason Brutalist buildings have such a following, and are seen in so many coffee table books, posters and so on, is because they’re kind of photogenic,” says Owen Hopkins, historian and author of “The Brutalists: Brutalism’s Best Architects” (Phaidon, 2023). As Hopkins explains, there are three key elements to the style: “It’s about an extreme truth to materials, which manifested itself as raw, unfinished concrete; an understanding of context, which in Europe after World War II was destruction, rubble and the exposed insides of buildings; and its memorability as an image.”

From civic architecture and cultural centres to huge housing developments around the globe, Brutalism has proved controversial for its attention-grabbing scale and stark detail. But while it divides tastes, the style is undeniably powerful—with a legion of loyal fans. In campaigns of postwar rebuilding, it was intended to symbolize hope and renewal. In parts of the world forging a new post-colonial path or economic agenda, it was a marker of independence and modernity. And in the private home, massive concrete volumes became a way to outwardly express the progressive values of the owner. 

A celebrated example is the Harry and Penelope Seidler House (1967), designed by the Austrian-Australian architect couple as their own family home in the Sydney suburb of Killara. “It’s incredibly boldly sculptural and multi-layered,” says Hopkins of the residence. “Built on a hilltop, it has quite a complicated plan and section, with lots of half levels and views through it that allowed the parents to keep an eye on their children.” 

Because Brutalism was never a dominant style of domestic architecture, exclusive gems from the era are much sought-after by the luxury buyer. Homes of this type often serve as a manifesto, both to more open ways of living and to a robustness that endures. Penelope Seidler still lives in the Seidler House today, with interiors, furniture and art that remain largely unchanged. These residences may be architectural history, but they were built on principles of spaciousness, light and expansive views that remain timelessly desirable. 

Canadian architect John C. Parkin’s 30 High Point Road, currently listed for sale in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighborhood, is an extraordinary example of how the style was used to exude wealth and status. Completed in 1976, the eight-bedroom mansion has a long flight of steps leading to its entrance, emphasizing a grandiose concrete structure that slopes dramatically to the ground. Inside, a four-story atrium floods the house with natural light, giving this home the quality of a museum or gallery more than a domestic space. Curtain walls of glazing—another Brutalist hallmark—make the property’s views of mature trees and landscaping a backdrop for living and entertaining.

In Belgium, a humbler home by architect Marc Corbiau—also currently for sale—can be found in the countryside of Walloon Brabant. Designed in 1972, the house is enveloped by greenery that has been allowed to creep up and over its raw concrete forms. With the appearance of a romantic ruin, it is set low in the landscape, with the house and gardens seemingly merging into one. This softer approach to the architectural style, with details updated by interior designer Catleen le Hardy in 2018, shows a more livable version of Brutalism for today’s buyer, with low ceilings and intimately scaled living spaces. 

Such is the influence of Brutalism, it is now emerging in new expressions. Contemporary homes that build on Brutalism’s legacy are moving away from a dominant use of concrete towards more sustainable materials. However, they still show the same interest in raw surfaces and geometric volumes. Casa La Colina, a luxury family home currently listed in Guanajuato, Mexico, is an example of the style’s lasting power.

The home is organized as an assembly of large boxy forms around an exposed concrete core. Entering the property over a footbridge heightens anticipation of the generous, light-filled living spaces. “It is unique among the Spanish Colonial-style homes of the area,” says selling agent Sheryl Clark. “It’s easy to see how this home can be easily used to entertain, with a large chef’s kitchen, open floor plan, and views out to the yard and pool.” Another dramatic feature is the “long aesthetic hallway of towering slit windows,” she says.

While many original examples of the style are celebrated, others are regarded as eyesores. By the late 1970s, especially in the UK, Brutalist buildings had come to be seen as cold and harsh rather than positive and uplifting.“But with the wheel of taste turning and a generation with no memory of the backlash, maybe we’re now able to look at it differently,” says Hopkins. Brutalism’s energetic spirit awaits its next interpretation. That makes it much more than a style choice for buyers—it’s a chance to be part of its dramatic history. 

Source: Sotheby’s