And also Mckinnon, Mclaughlin, and McNaughton? 
Brutalism wasn’t coined yet at that point, but it sure looks like precognition! I imagine it’s defined as Art Deco because of the period, the stepping, and also the curves. However, if it had been post 1950, it likely would have been pegged brutalist.
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The large empty space in the middle might have housed the equipment. Have the antennas been lost? The long wave transmitters were huge. Here in Lahti, Finland, the antennas have been preserved as a landmark (the wires were stretched between the two towers).
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I looked it up and it is indeed art deco…
Yes, the antennas are long gone and it is no longer a radio station. It was given back to the dutch forest service who ownes the surrounding park.
Here’s a link to some of its history:
https://hierradiokootwijk.nl/english-version/
Yup! Been a bunch of years since I graduated ('80), so hardly recognize the exterior shot — most of those (now mature) trees had just been planted when I was there.
Guess the school of Landscape Architecture knew what they were doing — looks gorgeous in that shot.
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My daughter’s school was in the building on the left hand side of the pond!
I love the cheerful austerity of the Barbican!
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It’s about 45 years since I saw Barbican. At the time the quality of the landscaping was outstanding. If the photos posted here are as recent as they look, what strikes me is that they have managed to maintain it when so many places from that time have started out ambitious but have since fallen into disrepair.
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Yes, that is the trouble with architectural styles that rely on concrete… Even if well made and designed in such a way that they remain structurally sound, the concrete at least breaks down enough to look unsightly, often with rust damage from supports. So it does need regular maintenance.
Cheerful Austerity!!! I love it. It’s an oxymoron, and yet so true. So many brutalist interiors are both stark, and cheerfully decorated. It’s almost as if the big open walls, high ceilings, and bleak balconies, were meant to host colourful art, banners, and plants respectively.
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Check out the new Netflix series called Archive81. Much of it takes place in a brutalist house near Pittsburg (or somewhere in PA) done by a Greek architect of local renown. Tasso Katselas. It’s his own family home. It has some very nice moments (the house and the show) and the camera treats it well, especially the interior.
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The theme of that series is intriguing! I think I’ve heard of it, but now we’ll probably watch it - thank you!
Here is the house you’re talking about. Pretty cool!
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I understand that the style of Runcorn was not universally liked. I haven’t read the article you refer to but I would agree that the failure or success of social housing projects is mainly not an architectural style question. A concentration of low income people without necessary social services and support results in a ghetto, and this is what usually has happened with most of the failed projects. Demolition usually results in gentrification and happens in areas that are situated in places that makes them desirable for richer inhabitants.
I was in the presence of James Stirling a couple of times and I don’t recognize the arrogance that you attribute to him. The design of Runcorn was innovative in a way that was new at the time, by creating a low rise, walk-up environment instead of the then common low-income tower blocks that have too been demolished in many places. The houses had gardens!
The high rise 56 Leonard Street in NYC is an amazing building. Swiss architect Herzog & de Meuron designed the building from the inside out so they could get specific views of Lower Manhattan. The staircase is sculpture within itself. The shear thought of continuous pour concrete of this magnitude is always an amazing feat of engineering.
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At least here in Finland people who were housed in these kind of projects came from living conditions that were very much worse.
I have questions: When the estate was demolished, where did the people living there go? How did they benefit from the demolition? Who came in their place?
Information - is this for real?
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I was almost certain that it wasn’t but didn’t dare to ask…It’s quite incredible.
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Was trying to use the 3D Warehouse but it’s not working at the moment and came to Forum to see if there were any postsin regards. This Brutalist post was at the top of the list. I’ve been curious about trying to model the Lincoln House and have been gathering what info I can. So far only have a rough plan boxed out with a few of the curved walls. Have no dimensions to work from only a comment that overall length was 150x30 to 45 feet wide. Unfortunately the structure was demoed many years ago. Have several other models to keep busy with.
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