Date:
Location:
McLaughlin Library, Room 246
Bold, raw and unapologetic,
Brutalism is an attitude as much as a style.
The concrete builders of the 1960s believed unequivocally that modern problems could be solved with modern design. This exhibition sheds new light on Brutalism by examining its impact on the University of Guelph. The term “Brutalism” came into use in the 1950s to describe the concrete architecture emerging in the United Kingdom and Europe, including Swiss-French architect LeCorbusier’s expressive béton brut—literally meaning “raw concrete.”
Established in 1964, the University of Guelph was born in a decade of ambitious nation-building across Canada, culminating in Montreal’s Expo ’67. Higher education was a priority with 12 new universities being built across the country—eight in Ontario alone. The Brutalist ethic was in full swing. Concrete, with its affordability, speed of construction and expressive sculptural qualities, was the material of choice.
Established in 1964, the University of Guelph was born in a decade of ambitious nation-building across Canada, culminating in Montreal’s Expo ’67. Higher education was a priority with 12 new universities being built across the country—eight in Ontario alone. The Brutalist ethic was in full swing. Concrete, with its affordability, speed of construction and expressive sculptural qualities, was the material of choice.
Five decades on, what can we learn from this intense building effort and the zealous optimism Brutalism represents? How might this attitude inform future campus evolution? Visit the exhibition to explore the topic further.
