A facade in brutalist style
Raw concrete and heavy massing — architecture without compromise.
Brutalism is a style for the brave. The facade rests on raw architectural concrete with the formwork still legible, heavy cantilevered volumes and deeply recessed windows. There is no room here for softening the expression — the form is meant to be strong and unambiguous.
Despite the name, good brutalism does not feel brutal. What matters is the play of light across the texture of the concrete and the rhythm of deep window reveals, which redraw the facade as the day moves. The concrete is softened in places — warm timber at the entrance, planting around it.
It is a choice for houses with genuinely sculptural massing, ideally with a flat roof and projecting elements. It calls for a deliberate decision, because it divides opinion. A visualisation lets you check whether your building can carry that rawness.
Which houses it suits
- Houses with sculptural massing and projecting elements
- Buildings with a flat roof and deep window reveals
- Owners who want architecture that takes a position
Colours and materials
- Raw concrete and greys
- Black joinery
- Warm timber as a spot counterpoint
Common questions
Do I need real concrete?
No — concrete-effect boards and renders that imitate architectural concrete give a close result at a far lower cost and with much less load on the structure.
Does facade concrete age?
Yes, and that is part of the aesthetic. It is still worth protecting the surface with a hydrophobic impregnation to limit staining and algae growth on the north side.
Similar styles
