Home
Talks
What is: Brutalism?
One might consider Brutalism as the 'marmite' of architectural history: it is a style that is systematically loathed and revered. HRH Prince Charles once compared one of the icons of Brutalism, Britain's National Theatre, to a nuclear power station. A strong reaction to the hulking concrete edifice... But is that the point?
Learn about some of the key facets and figures of Brutalist history with Professor Richard J. Williams.
Time Period:
20th century
Themes:
Richard J. Williams is Professor of Contemporary Visual Cultures at the University of Edinburgh where he has worked since 2000. Before that, he studied fine art at Goldsmiths College, and history of art at the University of Manchester. His work deals mainly with modern and contemporary architecture and urban theory; the representation of cities in film and TV is a major interest. His books include, The Anxious City (2004), Brazil: Modern Architectures in History (2009), Sex and Buildings (2013), The Architecture of Art History (with Mark Crinson, 2018) and Why Cities Look the Way They Do (2018). He is currently writing a book about the architectural historian and critic Reyner Banham.
15:47
Building Brasília
'To create an entirely new capital, from scratch, in the middle of nowhere, was an extraordinarily ambitious thing to try and do...' Prof. Richard J. Williams.
12:30
City of Fantasies: Reyner Banham and the Architecture of LA
Prof. Richard Williams explores the lure of Los Angeles.
47:21
Brian Clarke, Norman Foster and Robert Storr in Conversation
An online conversation between the foremost practitioner of stained glass, architectural artist Brian Clarke and esteemed architect Sir Norman Foster, chaired by Robert Storr.
15:47
'To create an entirely new capital, from scratch, in the middle of nowhere, was an extraordinarily ambitious thing to try and do...' Prof. Richard J. Williams.
12:30
Prof. Richard Williams explores the lure of Los Angeles.
47:21
An online conversation between the foremost practitioner of stained glass, architectural artist Brian Clarke and esteemed architect Sir Norman Foster, chaired by Robert Storr.
4:23
What does an Abstract Expressionist painting look like? Eleanor Nairne unpacks some of the aspects of this divergent movement.
1:22:59
Damien Hirst’s ‘Treasures from the Wreck of the Unbelievable’ reveals the fascinating story of the discovery and excavation of an ancient shipwreck.
11:49
An exploration of the processes of leading artist Gerhard Richter as presented through his glass sculptures and paintings.