Renovating Brutalist Architecture


 

Brutalist architecture is a fascinating thing. Perhaps no other style of architecture captures the attention of people generally, particularly those outside the architectural profession – regular people like me.  And often the attention is not positive. 


In many ways, brutalist architecture pushes itself into the consciousness because it so clearly typifies the gap between western elites and the majority of regular people. Indeed, brutalist architecture reflects the eternal project of the elites - the quest for positive social change and progressive ideological action. That was the point of brutalist design. But ultimately, the result turned out to be cold concrete, authoritarian forms, the esthetics of the prison.  How could it be otherwise?


So as these buildings age, the issue of renovation has become a public issue. What do we do with these buildings? Do we demolish them as many people would like or do we renovate these structures and give them new lives? And if we renovate do we maintain the connection with the GULAG or do we give them contemporary forms, more airy and less authoritarian in intent.

 

Demolition of Brutalist Buildings

YWCA Building

In Calgary, all of the approaches to dealing with brutalist architecture are currently playing out. Recently, a very large brutalist landmark that covered an entire block was demolished. The downtown YWCA building was removed and now the land is ready for redevelopment. No really serious effort was undertaken to protect the site. Perhaps, the size of the land parcel and the challenges with repurposing the building were insurmountable.


Education Centre Building


Perhaps Calgary’s best known brutalist landmark, the Education Centre Building, has sat empty for the last decade.  While I am not aware of any plans to demolish the building, I have to wonder if the fate of many brutalist buildings is playing out here – demolition by neglect.  As time passes, it seems less and less likely that there will be the political will or economic capital to see this building renovated or repurposed.





Renovation of Brutalist Buildings

There have been a number of recent renovations of brutalist buildings in Calgary. I will start with Calgary’s other ‘famous’ brutalist landmark. 


Centennial Planetarium / Science Centre


Built in time for Canada’s centennial celebration, the Jack Long designed Centennial Planetarium opened in 1967 on the west end of Calgary’s downtown. The building looked less like the City Hall in Boston, and was more sculptural in form.


Recently, the city build a new and larger science centre in order to meet the demands of a much larger population. After that new facility opened, the question of what as to happen to the building became an issue. There was a greater desire to save this building and ultimately the decision was made to repurpose the building into a contemporary art gallery.  Renovations followed and the building reopened with much of the building's structure, look and feel remaining in place but with a more contemporary vibe.  


The newly updated building looks nice and it feels like a success story. I have to get it photographed from the inside at some point, as well as get some photos of the exterior that are more illustrative. 


Just recently another major transformation project was announced. You can read about it here.  Should this development proceed as planned, the site will look very different. 






 

Social Sciences Building

Another project specifically addressed at fixing a brutalist style building on the University of Calgary campus has recently been completed. A sciences tower with precast concrete slabs was experiencing structural issues, and the panels along the sides of the buildings were removed and replaced with solar panels.






 

MacKimmie Block

The bigger project at the University was the recent redevelopment of the Mackimmie Block, the old brutalist library.  The University completely removed the exterior and replaced it with a moder glass exterior that completely changes the way the library looks. By looking at this building, you would never guess that the bones of this contemporary structure is the cement of a brutalist building.  The project really moves very far from the original intent of the architects and is no longer brutalist in essence or intent.






Glenbow Museum

And finally, the City of Calgary is undertaking a massive project in the central pedestrian district of downtown Calgary. The Glenbow Museum is undergoing a complete renovation right now and so its hard to know whether the resulting structure will work or no. The old cement walls are gone, and new white cladding is being added to the building.  Like the MacKimmie Block, this building will no longer be considered brutalist.


The only real question is whether the new Glenbow Museum can escape the ideological mediocrity of the new ruling class in Canada and avoid the pablum of the ‘no offence’ society.

 





Conclusion


I do believe that it makes sense from an efficiency perspective to repurpose these existing structures, renovating where it makes sense.  At least some of these structures should be left to reflect the values of the original architects and the societies in which they were created. These buildings to make a statement about our history and so should be preserved.


 

 

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Location: Calgary, AB, Canada

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