Lego Challenge #13: Build a model in the Brutalist style

Tom Alphin is the author of the bestselling new book: The LEGO Architect. Explore 7 common architectural styles with photos of amazing LEGO creations, a brief history of each style, and follow clear instructions to build your own models using common LEGO bricks!

Learn more at brickarchitect.com or buy it now at Amazon.com.

Brutalism is an architectural style dominated by massive poured concrete structures. It was initially used due to the low cost of construction, but became a style of it’s own. There are examples throughout the world, including a number of buildings in Washington DC. The style is also common of Soviet structures in the cold-war era.

Washington State Brutalist Architectural examples

Brutalist style resources:

• Brutalism examples at WA Dept of Archaeology
• Brutalist examples in Ontario, Canada
• Brutalist Archtiecture on the Wikipedia

Brutalist style apartment building.

For my project, I wanted to create a blocky apartment building, but include rounded curves on the top to soften the form. I chose to make each of the three wings a different width to add some interest and variety to the form. I suspected the structure on concrete pillars, common to the style and allowing the structure to breathe at the bottom.

Conclusion

This was a fun, quick build that offered little challenge in assembly besides trying to ensure the windows lined-up across the three wings. I’m happy with the shape and overall design.

build time: 40 minutes.