Brutalism Archives

Retro Road Trip

The Nuclear Reactor Building at UW: A Building Lost, a Battle Won

March 20, 2022
Written by Kye Cardinalis and Featured image photography by Washington Trust/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

exterior shot of the UW Nuclear Reactor Building

The University of Washington (UW) in Seattle is a veritable treasure trove of Brutalist architecture, home to the spectacular Red Square and structures like Kane Hall and Odegaard Undergraduate Library.…

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Retro Road Trip

The Imposing Brutalist Grandeur of UW’s Red Square

November 14, 2021
Written by Kye Cardinalis

If you are ever in the neighborhood of the University of Washington, you will want to pay a visit to UW’s iconic Central Plaza, better known as the “Red Square.”…

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Retro Road Trip

Pretty (and Brutalist) in Pink

May 23, 2021
Written by Dana Mauer

Experimental retail should have the power to pull people out of their homes while giving something back to public life. Near the historic Los Angeles Beverly Center, The Webster stands…

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The symmetrical Geisel library with large concrete beams and many glass windows in the day time.

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Brutalist Architecture 101

July 31, 2019
Written by Hannah Strandberg

Brutalism has resulted in some of the most heated architectural debates in history. It often appears intrusive and intimidating, but a closer look at the fine print may help us understand these mysterious buildings.

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philip johnson's glass house international style

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Architecture + Renovation

What Is International Style?

September 26, 2019
Written by Rabekah Henderson

International style is an architectural style that is characterized by rectangular structures and forms, simple exteriors with large glass panes and open interiors. It was especially popular in the early…

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The Salk Institute: Form and Function At Its Finest

When one hears the name ‘Salk,’ most people think of Jonas Salk, the man who created the first successful polio vaccine. But when a modernist hears the name ‘Salk,’ their…

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What Is Witco? The History of the Iconic Tropical Furniture Maker

September 17, 2020
Written by Rabekah Henderson

In 1958, a small importing company named Western International Trading Co. was founded in Washington State. Tropical style had taken over the United States, and there were tropical-themed bars, restaurants and…

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Architect Ulrich Franzen’s Footprints of an Age

November 24, 2020
Written by Jolene Nolte

The German-born Ulrich Franzen (1921-2012) left an architectural legacy across America. From residential homes such as the Dana House in Connecticut to the Alley Theater in Texas, Franzen's structures embody a Mid Century Modern and Brutalist aesthetic.

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Retro Road Trip: São Paulo Museum of Art

Traveling may be off the table now, but 2021 is around the corner—and with it comes the promise of the retro road trip! (Though it may be tricky to drive…

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