Brutalism in India: Reflection of Principles and expressive Language influenced by Brutalism: Understanding the Material Concrete and Its Expression in Brutalist Architecture

Abstract

Brutalism is an architectural style and an ethical conundrum of practicing architecture, known for its notorious past. The word ‘Brutal’ has its connotations with cruelty, inhumanity, aggression and savageness; however Brutalism refers to a Post WWII architectural style predominantly conceived in Europe. A great number of architects from all over the world between the years 1950 to 1980 practiced Brutalism although the word used to describe it was New Brutalism. Exposed Concrete buildings lies in the heart of brutalist architecture and which is used with its raw nature unpretentious honesty and ethic rather than aesthetic. These Heroic structures are often critiqued as alienating, visually heavy structures, dominative and harsh. But it is the crudeness of the material and visual form used by the architect which gives it these ethical qualities. As Brutalism progressed from European architects to other nations, there were new qualities and principles added or neglected. This variation of principles and manner of expression is result of didactic fervour of early Brutalist architects and result of experimentation of newer Brutalist architects. Upon examination of Brutalist Modern architecture around India it was observed that this type of architecture was mostly limited to 3 cities: Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, whereas Bangalore, Mehsana and Kanpur have singular buildings. Most buildings by various architects are present in Delhi which is it has predominantly been taken as centre of study however this language is not limited to only Delhi Modernist architecture. This study examines the role of Concrete Brutalism and its influence in developing an expressive language of Architecture in particularly Early Modernist period of Architecture in India. Page 22 Brutalism In India Taking Corbusier’s premise, “Mass and Surface are the elements by which architecture manifests itself” as basis of analysing. It is also an attempt to codify a critical meaning of Brutalism and its relation to concrete through a visual study into Brutalist buildings around the world.