Now on view at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), is a new exhibition by artist Simon Terrill and design collective Assemblage that shifts the focus of Brutalist architecture to the often overlooked play areas that exist at the foot of many of Britain's most notable structures. The Brutalist Playground is an interesting look at the intentions and functions of the architects who designed residential buildings that are still furiously debated today.
Balfron Tower playground, Poplar, London, 2015. Photograph by Simon Terrill/Assemble
This is a fascinating examination of how much these structures were a product of their time. Many of the play areas consist of peculiar and odd items and several of the features would not be considered safe by the society's standards today. From crashed flying saucers to cruise-liner chimneys to hollow concrete boxes, the playgrounds were very representative of the political, social and cultural movements of the era in which they were constructed. It's also amazing to see how the ethos of Brutalism was carried out to every last detail. Raw materials like concrete and metal were exclusively used for many of these, and as the photos indicate, simply look uninviting and inhospitable.
The exhibition takes up the entire architectural gallery at RIBA, and as a special addition, design studio Assemblage has re-created some of the play areas indoors that children can actually use. However, instead of using concrete, they are made of foam and employ bright colors. Artist James Terrill remarks,
"We talked about using concrete, but it would have been impossible in a museum. And it would have been inappropriate for children to play on. So we used foam, which by coincidence has a very similar speckled look to bush-hammered concrete. The colours are standard issue, and relate to the density of the foam. Pink foam is denser than blue. The brutalist ethos was to expose the function of a building, and honour the truth of your materials. Brutalist playgrounds were a truth to concrete, ours is a truth to foam."
This is an amazing exhibition that immediately caught our eye. Brutalism continues to be a divisive architectural movement and this will no doubt only add to the debate. One thing is certain, it reaffirms that idea that Brutalist structures were honest and stayed true to the ideals of their creators. Function and materials were of the utmost importance and this was carried out in every last detail, which is something I always admire. On view in London until August 16th, 2015. For more information please visit RIBA.
-JRS
*click to enlarge
Clockwise from top left:
Park Hill estate, Sheffield, 1962. Photograph by Arch Press Archive/RIBA
Churchill Gardens estate, Pimlico, 1963. Photograph by John Maltby/RIBA
Churchill Gardens estate, Pimlico, 1956. Photograph by John Maltby/RIBA
Assemble and Simon Terrill’s playground at RIBA. Photograph by David Levene for the Guardian.
Assemble and Simon Terrill’s playground at RIBA. Photograph by David Levene for the Guardian.
Park Hill estate, Sheffield, 1963. Photograph by Arch Press Archive/RIBA