Detail showing upper storey of Nelco Square. Photo: Heritage Calgary.

“Brutalism? Eww!” is a common reaction towards this 20th century architectural style that often - but not always – makes generous use of concrete. These concrete works of art often appear impenetrable and fortress-like from the outside, likely inciting their negative reception. Today many brutalism fans remain concerned about their negative reception, though increasingly we are seeing a renewed interest and appreciation for this once-derided architectural style. New films such as The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet, draw inspiration from the raw, powerful, and honest nature of the brutalist style.

The fictional Van Buren Institute in the film *The Brutalist*. Image: A24.

Brutalism as a style originated in Europe in the mid-twentieth century. There is some debate as to whether this type of built form started in France, Sweden, or the UK, but it is generally recognized to have European origins, and saw its rise after the Second World War when the devastation caused by bombing necessitated the rebuilding of many cities and urban areas.

The earliest reference to this style is said to be coined by Le Corbusier in an essay found in his influential work Towards a New Architecture, written in 1927. He used the term ‘beton brut’ to describe the construction of the Unite d’Habitations in Marseilles, and the published essay also featured Calgary’s Ogden Federal Elevator, demolished April 17, 2012. The story of the Elevator and its role in the development of Calgary is outlined in Scott Joliffe’s book Concrete Centenarian. Copies of the Concrete Centenarian are currently for sale - please contact us for a copy!

Image of the Canadian Government Elevators used by Le Corbusier to demonstrate ‘Beton brut’.

Love it or hate it, brutalism played a major role in the development of cities from the mid to late 20th century. Although it has a reputation for its generous use of concrete, brutalist sites often incorporate brick and/or wood and/or glass. In fact, truth to materials in their raw form is the essence of brutalism.

Brutalism spread from Europe around the world and examples can be found in the UK, Europe (particularly eastern Europe), Argentina, Japan, and across North America. Some of the most classic examples in North America are Habitat 67, built in Montreal by Canadian architect Moshe Safdie for Expo ’67, and Boston City Hall by Gerhard Kallmann and Michael McKinnell.

Boston City Hall, constructed in 1963. Designed by Gerhard Kallmann and Michael McKinnell.

Unlike in Europe and the UK, where brutalism was used to remediate post-war destruction, in North America the idea of urban renewal became a hot topic in the mid-century. Planners were concerned with eradicating “urban blight,” particularly in downtown districts. These had become lower rent neighbourhoods as those who could moved to the new suburbs. To implement these planning schemes, which often included the creation of mega blocks, existing infrastructure and housing was demolished, and brutalism became associated with public works including public office buildings, libraries, museums, as well as social housing.

In Calgary, significant examples of brutalism are found in the downtown east end, including the former Calgary Board of Education Headquarters and the Catholic School Centre (now part of Bow Valley College). Deemed a ‘blighted’ area, city planners created Urban Renewal Scheme 1A to aid its revitalization which included the creation of several districts for education, administration, and commerce.

City of Calgary Urban Renewal Scheme No 1, impacting the downtown east end. Note designation of blocks for administration, Museum and Arts, Senior Citizens, Vocational Training, and Commercial. A large area was also set aside for Mount Royal Junior College.

It is interesting to consider that when Calgary’s brutalist structures were built, they replaced a series of buildings that were likely constructed at the beginning of the century: mostly Victorian brick buildings at the time considered derelict and outdated, whose loss we lament today. Today we find ourselves a half century in the future, and those same buildings that were intended to revitalize the urban centre are themselves under threat, considered derelict and outdated. Calgary has several important and beautiful examples of brutalism. Most of these buildings were built between 1967 and 1977, a peak period of brutalism in Calgary.

First, the design of the Education Centre Building was likely inspired by the Boston City Hall. Completed in 1969, it was designed by Stevenson Raines Barrett Hutton Seton and Partners, who also designed some other buildings that made judicious use of concrete, including McEwen Hall at the University of Calgary and the Big Four building at Stampede Park. Constructed to a height of five stories, the design allowed for an additional four stories above the current structure. The varied rhythm of the walls on the ground floor support an oblong box featuring a regular pattern of windows separated by concrete fins.

Education Centre Building, 1969. Photo credit: Heritage Calgary

Directly across the street and built in 1968, the Catholic School Centre was designed by Macmillan Long. Architect and urban planner Jack Long came to Calgary from the U.S. after studying at Penn State and practicing with renowned Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei in New York. Although taking up a slightly smaller footprint than its counterpart across the street, the Catholic School Centre shares some of the same general themes, including a public plaza raised above an underground parking area, and upper stories featuring a regular bank of windows separated by concrete fins. The primary façade for both buildings doesn’t face the street but is oriented to an open area; the Education Centre faces a park to the west and the Catholic School Centre the raised plaza to the east.

Catholic School Centre design as seen from the east. Photo credit: Jack Long fonds, University of Calgary, architectural archives.

At the same time his Catholic School Centre was under construction, Long’s innovative design for the Centennial Planetarium was being realized at the west end of downtown. It was developed as the official project of the city to mark Canada’s 1967 centennial of Confederation, and the planetarium reflected the cultural excitement for the space race at this time. Here Long takes advantage of the organized nature of concrete to create a sculpture that rises out of the landscape – a departure from the regular patterns of form found in the Catholic School Centre.

Postcard of the Centennial Planetarium showing its original configuration. The routing of the west leg of the Calgary’s C-train necessitated the removal of the south terrace.

Another significant example of brutalism in Calgary at this time is Mayland Heights Elementary School designed by Gordon Aitkins. Completed in 1968, its innovative design included open-area and open-concept classrooms, and a library at the heart of the building. The classrooms include skylights rather than windows, creating a focus on the interior, rather than the exterior. The use of concrete allowed the design to be flexible, and like the planetarium, the school appears to grow organically out of the landscape.

Mayland Heights School, as seen from the south. The main entrance is glazed, whereas the rest of the school makes generous use of concrete. Photo: Heritage Calgary.

Heritage Calgary currently lists the following brutalist sites on the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources:

Today the brutalist style has fans around the world. Docomomo International was founded in 1988 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands to document and conserve buildings, sites, and neighbourhoods that are emblematic of the Modern Movement. Today it has chapters in 80+ countries. Since concrete is a carbon-intense building method, today it has fallen out of favour. Nonetheless, ensuring that existing structures are adapted for future use is imperative to mitigate future effects of climate change. There needs to be a path forward to continue to appreciate and use these iconic structures and adapt them for new uses.

Concrete Masterpieces - The Brutal Blog