I don't know much about architecture, so what I do like about it comes almost entirely from a visual perspective. Over the years, I've come to learn that I really enjoy brutalist architecture -- generally speaking, structures that are made with the raw concrete exposed in some major way. Part of the reason why I think I like this style is because it makes for great urban exploring when these structures go abandoned. I know, weird reason.

Probably more than that though, I think I enjoy brutalist architecture because it always amazes me what designers and architects can do with concrete -- this material that to me just seems mostly hard and rigid and not at all glamorous. I guess I like being surprised.

This Brutal World is a fantastic look at this style. You can pick up this book for $34.

This Brutal World

$33.56

By Peter Chadwick

Buy on Amazon

Brutalism gets a bad rap sometimes, but I really love it. The buildings from this era of architecture design are boxy, solid, heavy objects that always give me a bit of dread, as if I had stepped into some dystopian future. One could argue that this is in fact a terrible way for a building to make you feel, but I think I like it because it makes me feel like I'm in a movie. After all, a lot of my favorite films use brutalist architecture -- RoboCop, Blade Runner, nearly all the housing blocks in old Hong Kong gagster films...you get the idea. While concrete isn't exactly an inviting surface, there's something I find very beautiful about it. And to some extent, I wish there was more of it around (but don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean that I want everything to be made of concrete boxes).

All that just to say that I really love the UC Innovation Center designed by Elemental. It juts out as the concrete monolith that it is and stands firm among the city landscape. Look at the photo and video below.