‘Six of Britain’s greatest landmarks, including Buckingham Palace & the Houses of Parliament, have been reimagined as boring, soulless buildings in a new campaign by the Humanise campaign & Uncommon Creative Studio.’
Big brother is watching you.
A new campaign against brutalism, very timely. When was the last time a major building was made in that style in the UK? Early 90s?
Tbh this is just a reminder that Edinburgh Castle is ultimately a military building. The bits we find most aesthetically pleasing were designed for defence, not beauty. It’s just that our cultural sense of aesthetics means that if a defensive structure is old enough it’s considered beautiful. We’re half way there with how we see Cramond Island.
I find it rather charming, but I take it this was designed by an opponent of Brutalism? Actual Brutalism is usually rather striking rather than domestic like this, and the windows look later 20th century to me. [ETA: no it’s just AI apparently, so without any design intent].
Reading the full article, it seems they’re arguing against modern, ‘sick’ buildings. So why target Brutalism, which ran from 1950s-1980s and was largely about quickly replacing post-war devastation?
Also to flag ‘Brutalist’ isn’t a criticism in anyway, the term derives from ‘beton brut’ meaning ‘raw concrete’.
I actually really like it
Thought they looked alright tbh. If they wasn’t brutalist architecture, come to the University of York.
Transform one of the most beautiful cities in the world into the Balkans with just one simple step!
Are you getting paid to post this on every Subreddit? Swear I’ve seen it 5 times this morning.
How about no?
Humanise? What a ridiculous statement – this image takes what is an amazing part of history, as well as aesthetically appealing but also brings major tourism.
Who would want to visit the above monstrosity?
Looks like Cumbernauld 😂
Hows this a good use of time
When you photograph those ‘lovely old buildings’ when they’re blackened with pollution and with a drab grey filter, they look pretty shit too.
Monstrous…
I like boring buildings.
Some buildings should stand out, like corner buildings, pubs, parliament, museums, whatever.
But if every building stood out then we’d live in a wilderness of architect’s egos. Sometimes refinement, or buildings that whisper rather than shout is right.
Some of our most beautiful streets- Regent Street, Royal Arcade, Grey Street in Newcastle- comprises repetitive elements with a dialogue of constraint. This is correct.
This Humanise Heatherwick marketing vehicle is simply decorating ‘iconic’ or deliberately loud buildings with ‘soft’ or boring architectural forms- as if we would. He only needs to look to the Scottish Parliament to see that his entire thesis is misguided
Swear that’s Rebirth Island
Looks good 👍
One of those buildings is definitely a flat roof pub.
Most real brutalist buildings look a lot nicer than that.
19 comments
Source: https://humanise.org/opinions/imagine-the-nation-s-favourite-buildings-stripped-of-their-soul-using-ai
‘Six of Britain’s greatest landmarks, including Buckingham Palace & the Houses of Parliament, have been reimagined as boring, soulless buildings in a new campaign by the Humanise campaign & Uncommon Creative Studio.’
Big brother is watching you.
A new campaign against brutalism, very timely. When was the last time a major building was made in that style in the UK? Early 90s?
Tbh this is just a reminder that Edinburgh Castle is ultimately a military building. The bits we find most aesthetically pleasing were designed for defence, not beauty. It’s just that our cultural sense of aesthetics means that if a defensive structure is old enough it’s considered beautiful. We’re half way there with how we see Cramond Island.
I find it rather charming, but I take it this was designed by an opponent of Brutalism? Actual Brutalism is usually rather striking rather than domestic like this, and the windows look later 20th century to me. [ETA: no it’s just AI apparently, so without any design intent].
Reading the full article, it seems they’re arguing against modern, ‘sick’ buildings. So why target Brutalism, which ran from 1950s-1980s and was largely about quickly replacing post-war devastation?
Also to flag ‘Brutalist’ isn’t a criticism in anyway, the term derives from ‘beton brut’ meaning ‘raw concrete’.
I actually really like it
Thought they looked alright tbh. If they wasn’t brutalist architecture, come to the University of York.
Transform one of the most beautiful cities in the world into the Balkans with just one simple step!
Are you getting paid to post this on every Subreddit? Swear I’ve seen it 5 times this morning.
How about no?
Humanise? What a ridiculous statement – this image takes what is an amazing part of history, as well as aesthetically appealing but also brings major tourism.
Who would want to visit the above monstrosity?
Looks like Cumbernauld 😂
Hows this a good use of time
When you photograph those ‘lovely old buildings’ when they’re blackened with pollution and with a drab grey filter, they look pretty shit too.
Monstrous…
I like boring buildings.
Some buildings should stand out, like corner buildings, pubs, parliament, museums, whatever.
But if every building stood out then we’d live in a wilderness of architect’s egos. Sometimes refinement, or buildings that whisper rather than shout is right.
Some of our most beautiful streets- Regent Street, Royal Arcade, Grey Street in Newcastle- comprises repetitive elements with a dialogue of constraint. This is correct.
This Humanise Heatherwick marketing vehicle is simply decorating ‘iconic’ or deliberately loud buildings with ‘soft’ or boring architectural forms- as if we would. He only needs to look to the Scottish Parliament to see that his entire thesis is misguided
Swear that’s Rebirth Island
Looks good 👍
One of those buildings is definitely a flat roof pub.
Most real brutalist buildings look a lot nicer than that.