flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

German artist recreates Brutalist buildings with LEGO blocks

Architects

German artist recreates Brutalist buildings with LEGO blocks

Arndt Schlaudraff brings the beauty out of the rugged, linear style of buildings most popular a half century ago.


By Mike Chamernik, Associate Editor | March 11, 2016
German artist recreates brutalist buildings with LEGO blocks

Photo: Arndt Schlaudraff, via Dezeen

Brutalist architecture has a perfectly appropriate name.

The design conveys, well, brutality. The movement, which was most popular in the middle of the 20th century, was marked by its cold, sterile appearance. Extremely functional, very linear, and lots of concrete. A retrofuturistic attempt at modernism. 

It’s a little funny, then, to see Brutalist buildings recreated with the same type of blocks that can be used to construct the Firehouse Headquarters from "Ghostbusters."

German artist Arndt Schlaudraff uses LEGO blocks to build notable Brutalist structures. He posts photos of his work on his Instagram account.

 

 

Not all Brutalist structures are plain, nor do they have beauty only in their subtlety. Some of the models Schlaudraff have made are really striking. Some entries are fictitious, and some are based off of existing buildings. Schlaudraff doesn’t sell his pieces; instead, he take photos and destroys the models so he can repurpose the bricks.

The artist spoke with Dezeen about his fascination with Brutalism and LEGOs.

 

Tags

Related Stories

Retail Centers | Jun 14, 2016

Zaha Hadid and Gensler among finalists for Sunset Strip billboard design competition

The concepts are curvy, sleek, and multidimensional, and feature sharp digital displays.

Movers+Shapers | Jun 14, 2016

VERTICAL INTEGRATOR: How Brooklyn’s Alloy LLC evolved from an architecture firm into a full-fledged development company

Led by an ambitious President and a CEO with deep pockets, Alloy LLC's six entities control the entire development process: real estate development, design, construction, brokerage, property management, and community development.

Office Buildings | Jun 14, 2016

Let's not forget introverts when it comes to workplace design

Recent design trends favor extroverts who enjoy collaboration. HDR's Lynn Mignola says that designers need to accommodate introverts, people who recharge with solitude, as well.

Building Team | Jun 13, 2016

BD+C launches Women in Design+Construction Conference

Inaugural 2.5-day event will convene 125+ leading AEC women in Dana Point, Calif., November 9-11, for professional development, networking, and career training.  

University Buildings | Jun 9, 2016

Designing for interdisciplinary communication in university buildings

Bringing people together remains the main objective when designing academic projects. SRG Design Principal Kent Duffy encourages interaction and discovery with a variety of approaches. 

BIM and Information Technology | Jun 7, 2016

Conquer computational design: 5 tips for starting your journey

Data-driven design expert Nathan Miller offers helpful advice for getting your firm ready to use CD tools and concepts. 

BIM and Information Technology | Jun 7, 2016

6 ways smart AEC firms are using computational design methods

Rapid prototyping, custom plug-ins, and data dashboards are among the common applications for computational design.

Building Team | Jun 2, 2016

Managing risk when building in challenging locations

AEC firms recognize the upsides of exploring new, emerging markets. Whitehorn Financial's Steve Whitehorn offers four principles that can help guide you to success.

Airports | Jun 1, 2016

LaGuardia Airport’s massive redevelopment begins construction

The development consortium has secured financing for the $4 billion project, and signed an operating lease through 2050.

Building Team Awards | Jun 1, 2016

Multifamily tower and office building revitalize Philadelphia cathedral

The Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral capitalizes on hot property to help fund much needed upgrades and programs.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Codes and Standards

New FEMA rules include climate change impacts

FEMA’s new rules governing rebuilding after disasters will take into account the impacts of climate change on future flood risk. For decades, the agency has followed a 100-year floodplain standard—an area that has a 1% chance of flooding in a given year.


Construction Costs

Data center construction costs for 2024

Gordian’s data features more than 100 building models, including computer data centers. These localized models allow architects, engineers, and other preconstruction professionals to quickly and accurately create conceptual estimates for future builds. This table shows a five-year view of costs per square foot for one-story computer data centers. 


Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.


halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021