Hi, my name is Raphael Selby and I’m a Masters of Architecture student at Newcastle University. This summer I’m travelling to Brazil to research brutalist architecture and I’ll be using this blog to document my thoughts and experiences along the way.
INTERNATIONAL BRUTALISMS – ‘BRAZILIAN CONCRETE’
For this study I will research Brutalism in the context of Brazil, during the period of 1950-1970, when the movement was at its peak. I will examine to what extent Brutalism of that period has influenced contemporary architecture in Brazil, both aesthetically and ethically, through analysis of focal buildings in the cities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Salvador.
In order to understand the full context of Brutalism in Brazil, and its meanings, the study must take into account a wider analysis of several Brazilian cities and their brutalist works. The understanding from each area will form an analysis of Brazilian Brutalism and only through a comparison of similarities and differences can the meaning of Brutalism in Brazil develop.
RESEARCH QUESTION
What does Brutalism mean in the context of Brazil?
The research deals with the following questions:
– When was ‘Brutalism’ first mentioned in Brazil and in what context?
– How did ‘Brazilian Brutalism’ originate?
– What were the first buildings?
– How did the movement develop across the country as a whole?
– Are there regional differences?
– How has Brutalism of 1950-1970 influenced contemporary architecture in Brazil?
Brazilian Concrete 