Week 1 Process

The New Brutalism by Reyner Banham (1955) was my selected material to translate. The journal article was published in The Architectural Review in 1955, and explored the earliest definition of the architectural movement. The true definition of Brutalism has been shrouded in mystery since its inception, with architectural critics rarely agreeing on a set of defining characteristics. 

Banham’s (1955) writing coincided with the rise of architects Alison and Peter Smithson. The Smithon’s are considered to be the founders of Brutalism, as they began to experiment with architectural detailing, where the materials retain their inherent qualities ‘as found’ (Banham, 1955).

Hunstanton School by Alison and Peter Smithson is considered by many as the first Brutalist building, as it adheres to Banham’s (1955) definition of The New Brutalism. I focused my observation onto Hunstanton School.

My initial method of investigation looked at redacting the text, leaving only the content about Hunstanton School exposed. 

Using the visual language of the redacted article, I began to see architectural patterns within the imagery. I subsequently translated the visual imagery of the text into semi-conventional architectural drawings. I opted to unfold the facade elevations around the architectural floor plan, creating the textures of the materials using the fabric of the redacted article. 

Reference List:

Banham, R. (1955) ‘The New Brutalism,’ The Architectural Review, 118 (708), pp. 335-361.

Henderson, N. (2001) The charged void: Architecture – Alison and Peter Smithson [Photograph]. Available at: https://hicarquitectura.com/2023/07/alison-and-peter-smithson-hunstanton-school/(Accessed: 11 November 2025).