DougB
Active Member
Brutalism is by far my least favorite architectural style. I can think on only a handful of such buildings that are attractive, mostly because they juxtapose against a natural environment: ex. Ontario Science Center in Toronto (in a wooded ravine)
Problems with brutalism in general:
-concrete looks awful when wet and takes forever to dry
-concrete easily stains, mildews and cracks
-gray is drab and depressing
-sheer walls, cantilevers and other attempts at geometric whimsy can create a sense of being overpowered or dehumanized
-government buldings, especially from the Communist era, are often brutalist, which reinforces the impression of conformity and oppression
-housing projects are usually brutalist - think A Clockwork Orange
-brutalist buildings are often designed to force occupants into walkways, courtyards, stairwells etc., creating a feeling of being socially engineered
-brutalist buildings are often internally focused, with interior atriums and courtyards, that not only turn away from the street, but basically try to wall it off with unremarkable entrances and few windows
The former CBE building is nothing special or in need of preservation. It reminds me of a smaller version of the Hoover Building (where Fox Mulder works in the basement) from DC. The entire Churchill Park redevelopment scheme from the 60's-80's created a depressing environment in that part of dt. The sooner all of that meets the wrecking ball, the better. The former planeterium is Calgary's only brutalist building of merit.
Problems with brutalism in general:
-concrete looks awful when wet and takes forever to dry
-concrete easily stains, mildews and cracks
-gray is drab and depressing
-sheer walls, cantilevers and other attempts at geometric whimsy can create a sense of being overpowered or dehumanized
-government buldings, especially from the Communist era, are often brutalist, which reinforces the impression of conformity and oppression
-housing projects are usually brutalist - think A Clockwork Orange
-brutalist buildings are often designed to force occupants into walkways, courtyards, stairwells etc., creating a feeling of being socially engineered
-brutalist buildings are often internally focused, with interior atriums and courtyards, that not only turn away from the street, but basically try to wall it off with unremarkable entrances and few windows
The former CBE building is nothing special or in need of preservation. It reminds me of a smaller version of the Hoover Building (where Fox Mulder works in the basement) from DC. The entire Churchill Park redevelopment scheme from the 60's-80's created a depressing environment in that part of dt. The sooner all of that meets the wrecking ball, the better. The former planeterium is Calgary's only brutalist building of merit.
