Brutalist architecture in Liverpool

[Villiers Terrace]

This difficult mid to late 70's aesthetic trend, now known as Brutalism has occasionly thrown up the odd classic, the South Bank complex in London being one, the Barbican complex not half a mile from it, another.

The term Brutalism is derived fron the French for "raw" and refers primarily to the raw unfinessed concrete exterior of these buildings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutalist_architecture

Liverpool has, as far as I know, 3 or 4 remaining examples of what you could term Brutalist architcture:

1. The Sandcastle. 5/5 for the technical innovations and production standards of this pile, but I can only rate it a generous 2/5 for it's stumpy compromised appearance-it's a bit shit really.
2. Queen Elizabeth Law Courts. Fairly horrid, but not as horrid as it could've been. Joy! 2/5.
3. TGWU building. Identifying this as a 'minor' work of Brutalism would be an overstatement. Always was a ugly and unwelcome imposter to the fancy Georgian minuet next door. A pretty grim 1/5.
4. University Hospital. Not nice, grim even. 1/5.

Giving Liverpool a Brutalism score of 6/20.

Who dares challenge my judgement?

[liverpolitan]

I'm not sure any of them are really brutalist, not least because of the colours - I thought the brutalists said we had to like stained concrete or fuck off?

RSA remains a great, in my opinion. I always used to like the TGWU building, I hope it is saved (seem to remember reading here that it might be replaced), although the last time I looked at it it was in very poor condition. I agree that the Law Courts are horrid, but I wonder if they will become better appreciated with age, and also I also wonder if PSDA (or Liverpool 1 as I think we're supposed to call it) will provide them with a better context.

[the golden vision]

Tend to agree Poli. Only the Royal could really be described as Brutalist. The RSA is definitely the best post-war building in the city in my opinionThe Crown Court is mediocre,both buildings have a militaristic look about them,the courts being almost on the spot of the original castle and that seems to have been the main infuence with the architect.Incidentally, i don't know whether people have noticed but the Malmaison has carried on theme of fortress type buildings, block like,with slit windows(similar to RSA)

[Tony Sebo]

Like any architectural school (fad) Brutalism has provided loads of good buildings. Parts of the University campus has some good little examples and many individual buildings on the Royal Hospital site are great.


Where I would take you up on your challenge Villiers is in your notion that the Royal Hospital is a vile construct... most of the buildings are fine... it is the 60s' anti city/anti street mentality that dictated the overall design of the site that lets it down. RSA is a fine building.... we need to take off those 60s' induced earthquake trauma reaction to that era.

[Villiers Terrace]

Originally Posted by Tony Sebo

... we need to take off those 60s' induced earthquake trauma reaction to that era.

Ah, but it's hard Sebo. I'm an uber-modernist, who, if I'm honest, can't really respect modern architecture.

[Villiers Terrace]

Sorry, I need to qualify my last statement

Contemporary architcture.....I mean I love it, like, err..30 selected bits of it around the world, but let's face it, the reality of modern capitalism and it's effect on today's COMMERCIAL* construction production-values means we're hanging on to anyone who can do ANYTHING vaguely interesting with a very much reduced range of expressive tools compared to previous eras.

*Smaller scale private-realm's a whole happier packet of fish.

[Awayo]

That chimney at the Royal, which looks like a Roman gladius, is well cool.

[Villiers Terrace]

Originally Posted by Awayo

That chimney at the Royal, which looks like a Roman gladius, is well cool.

Oh aye it's on the Modernist World Tour that one lad.

[Pobbie]

I'm not sure the RSA counts as brutalist architecture. It's rather unique in my opinion, and certainly different to the same old drab grey style of commieblocks.

Kingston House, now there's a brutalist atrocity if ever there was one. Thankfully its days are numbered.

[Tony Sebo]

I like the sword too. I suggested that it should be one of the structures lit during the second phase of the City of Light thing.... went down like a lead balloon.

[Villiers Terrace]

Originally Posted by Tony Sebo

I like the sword too. I suggested that it should be one of the structures lit during the second phase of the City of Light thing.... went down like a lead balloon.

The "sword"??
Tsk, tsk.

It's official title is the U.E.F.A.s Phallus Hammer Sceptre of Innocence. Not many people know that all the Champions League draws are televised from there and it's where Stringfellow has his porn stash.

'Hidden Liverpool' like.

[Martin S]

I wouldn't describe the RSA, QEII law courts or TGWU building as brutalist. They may use exposed concrete but in each case it is coloured and / or given a textured finish to soften its appearance.

The main idea of brutalism was to expose the raw concrete of a buildings structure - often to the extent of retaining the holes where ties held the formwork together.

This style was very much in vogue for university buildings as students are meant to be more intellectual and appreciate the honesty of these buildings. However, the discoloration that concrete is prone to in our damp and polluted environment soon meant that the attraction wore off.

However where exposed concrete has been used inside, I think it can look really good - for example in the FACT centre. I can't think of any other examples at the moment though.

[Villiers Terrace]

Originally Posted by Martin S

I wouldn't describe the RSA, QEII law courts or TGWU building as brutalist. They may use exposed concrete but in each case it is coloured and / or given a textured finish to soften its appearance.

The main idea of brutalism was to expose the raw concrete of a buildings structure - often to the extent of retaining the holes where ties held the formwork together.

This style was very much in vogue for university buildings as students are meant to be more intellectual and appreciate the honesty of these buildings. However, the discoloration that concrete is prone to in our damp and polluted environment soon meant that the attraction wore off.

However where exposed concrete has been used inside, I think it can look really good - for example in the FACT centre. I can't think of any other examples at the moment though.

Maybe you can call them mini-Brutalist relateds. The TGWU at least features the geometric styling of it's mini-towers typical of Brutalism.

I didn't think textured concrete was outside the Brutalist realm necessarily.

The ground-floor of the Metropolitan where the cafe is/was features a fair amouut of semi-raw concrete, also the inside of the RCA in london displays lot of the typical wood inprint patterning due to the troughs in which the wet cement was left to dry, which I believe is one of Brutalism's defining signatures.

[UrbaniseD]

People make the mistake of thinking that the term "brutalism" refers to a building having a brutal/harsh/ugly appearance. It doesn't.

The term brutalism is derived from the French expression, "breton brut", which literally means "raw concrete".

Therefore, the RSA and QEII courts can be considered brutal irrespective of whether the concrete is 'coloured'. There is no rule of brutalism which states that the concrete must be a certain colour.

Also, I think it is wrong for people to say that the concrete on the RSA for example has been 'coloured'. Its colour is in fact related to the type of sand and aggregate used in the production of the concrete panels. Some concrete for example has more of a seaside appearance as pebble type aggregate is used.

[Bachy Soletanche]

1. The Sandcastle.

3/5 Terrible at ground level especially for pedestrians, a common brutalist fault, but get's a high score from me for its size and the cubist piss take of the Liver building. Dunno what it's like inside.

2. Queen Elizabeth Law Courts.

3.5/5 Beautiful Choclolate Concreate colour with nice detailing, again terrible building to walk around, but a good example. this may suprise you, but I've never been in that one either.

3. TGWU building.
4/5 Wonderfully matching the building around it, while maintaining it's own period style. knocking it down would be a terrible mistake

4. University Hospital.

1.5/5 Hideous mismash of not quite matching styles, the "back" is just one, and looks better. The sword rules, with fists of iron though.


edited add picture of the "back" of the Royal, I think that looks okey to be honest:

[JUXTAPOL]

Sandcastle. Agree Shit at ground level, but that could easily be cured with imagination. Stunning above ground level in sunlight.



QE2 Law Courts, will look better with developments surrounding it, i quite like the entrance part, which i don't have a photo.



TGWU, unfairly compared to it's gracefull, clasically styled neighbours.

[Bachy Soletanche]

There's a lot more than that 5, Wilson Prichard Building possibly?

And how can you forget:

[Pobbie]

Originally Posted by UrbaniseD

People make the mistake of thinking that the term "brutalism" refers to a building having a brutal/harsh/ugly appearance. It doesn't.

The term brutalism is derived from the French expression, "breton brut", which literally means "raw concrete".

Therefore, the RSA and QEII courts can be considered brutal irrespective of whether the concrete is 'coloured'. There is no rule of brutalism which states that the concrete must be a certain colour.

Also, I think it is wrong for people to say that the concrete on the RSA for example has been 'coloured'. Its colour is in fact related to the type of sand and aggregate used in the production of the concrete panels. Some concrete for example has more of a seaside appearance as pebble type aggregate is used.

Point taken. Nevertheless, I still wouldn't refer to the RSA as "brutalist" given that I don't actually find it harsh and raw like most seem to. In a way, it reminds me of a Sumerian ziggurat.

[Scarecrow]

how about the Triad in Bootle, or the old St Johns House?

[T0M]