THE BRVTALIST

The Brutalist Prints 

Simon Phipps

Simon Phipps is a fine art photographer operating in the UK and has captured a wide variety of subjects. However, when we came across his Brutalist Prints series, we immediately saw something special. While photographing Brutalist architecture is nothing new, Mr. Phipps' approach and execution is something very unique. We were able to speak to the photographer about the series and understand his ethos and vision. 

*On the cover: Park Hill, Sheffield, 1957-1961. Architects: Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith for Sheffield City Council. Screenprint on aluminium, 500mm x 500mm, Edition: 25, 2012. 

New Brutalism is obviously a very important term to us and we were delighted to hear that it influenced the work of Simon Phipps. To quote the photographer:

 
The departure point for my photographic documentation of brutalist architecture is Reyner Banham's essay ‘The New Brutalism’ published in the Architectural Review, December 1955:

Brutalism’s properties were characterized by Banham as being:
‘1, Formal legibility of plan; 2, clear exhibition of structure, and 3, valuation of materials for their inherent qualities “as found”.’

Banham further argued that great architecture derives from the correct interaction of structure, function and form whilst also requiring a necessary conceptual content in order to have ‘memorability of image’.

Brutalist architecture communicates functionality, dynamism and the dictum ‘truth to materials’. Within the enhanced materiality of the built brutalist form my intention is to develop a narrative that explores the dynamic sculptural and conceptual characteristics of brutalist architecture within the context of a socially engaged and progressive movement. Ultimately the attraction is always ‘memorability of image’.

Mr. Phipps also made clear that his concerns are to to document and present post 1945 modernist British architecture that (loosely) fits into the idea of the social contract, that the state would provide housing and municipal buildings for the people.  This is one part of what makes Brutalism so unique. Its creation had many goals, but arguably the most important one was municipality and the idea that these were functional, government buildings that served a very specific purpose and their design was meant to reflect that. 

One of the most amazing aspects of this print series is how true Phipps has stayed to the original philosophy of Brutalism: 

I have photographed a number of buildings that sit within a loose Brutalist principle and rather than present them as photographic prints have produced them as monochrome images printed directly onto an aluminium substrate. I felt this would capture the idea of ‘valuation of materials “as found”, whist aluminium also resonates with concrete as a material in it’s visual nuetralness. In 1957 Gio Ponti argued that architecture both as ‘plastic and abstract fact, is colourless’. Concrete as a material would seem to have the neutral qualities to illustrate this observation and it is this very lack of colour in the brutalist prints that allow us to judge the forms as architecture. 

The decision to print directly on to aluminum is fascinating and could not be more perfect.  The style of architecture was all about materials and the aluminum certainly evokes feelings of those used to construct the buildings. 

We would like to thank Mr. Simon Phipps for taking the time out to contribute a few words about this great project and allowing us to use his stunning images. Brutalist architecture is more than just concrete buildings. It represents so much about politics, culture and the social environment of its time. The philosophy behind Ray Banham's "New Brutalism" essay has always resonated with us and continues to have a major influence on this website.  For more information please visit www.simonphipps.co.uk and Tumblr. 

-JRS