Brutalism is the term coined to describe the raw architecture often made with concrete during the 1950s and 1960s (with a later resurgence). I’m an architectural photographer and my fascination with these concrete buildings has led to me document a number of them across the UK (an on-going project).
In my opinion, Herzog & de Meuron has been one of the few practices pushing new forms on architecture. They always start with something vernacular, extracting its inner essence and materializing it into something new that you will immediately understand by looking at the building (or the renders). A dialog between art and the current state of our society, embodied on industrial facilities, residential projects, mixed use complexes.
Their book “Herzog & de Meuron: Natural History”
We now bring you a special on Herzog & de Meuron, with photos by Barcelona-based photographer Duccio Malagamba (previously featured on our AD Photographers section).
Architecture photographer Iwan Baan once again shared with us an impressive photo set on a social housing project by Chinese architects Urbanus.
The commission was to design a 220 apartment housing complex for people for low income families in Guangzhou. Urbanus decided to give the complex a nice and intimate atmosphere, by reinterpreting the traditional Hakka Houses. This housing typology correspond to 300 year old houses in the south of China, and as you can see on some pictures after the jump, they are basically a large housing project where complete families live as a community (aunts, nieces, nephews, etc.)
You can take a look at the Urbanus’ complete photo set over here, and the Hakka Houses photos over here.
Architects: Francis Isoz Location: Rue du Grand Chêne 8, Lausanne, Switzerland Project Year: 1898-1900 Client: Jean-Jacques Mercier
