Mr. Modtomic left a nice comment yesterday, so I went to take a look at his blog, too. And what did I see but a Lane “Brutalist” bedroom set “in the style of Paul Evans” that Mr. Modtomic spotted at the Salvation Army for $249.99. I think… this brutalist stuff is a big deal. As I have said many times before but perhaps still not often enough, I am not a Ph.D. interior designer or historian and most certainly not a DIY-er … I am an obsessed writer-decorating-homebody-sweet-on-the-small-stuff woman in love with all things mid-mod especially all the back stories. The why-why-why-why-why. One of the main joys of the blog is the continuous journey of discovery. And now: I have discovered the world of brutalism, thanks to Mr. M.
Okay, so my main source of info about brutalism so far is Wikipedia, but that’s a start, right? The term “brutalism” was coined in 1953, (not the 70s or something!) when architects were working with concrete and I guess, because of the nature of the material and also for socio-political reasons (there is always a “utopian” vision, usually communist, behind this stuff), they created blocky designs that “showed” the wood forms and such. Big chunky structures that they did not try to make look all smooth and perfect. W-pedia says the word Brutalism actually comes from the “French béton brut, or ‘raw concrete, a phrase used by Le Corbusier to describe the poured board-marked concrete with which he constructed many of his post-World War II buildings.”
Indeed, the most famous brutalist was Le Corbusier — hey, I heard of him before, for sure! Montreal Habitat’67 was brutalist — hey, I’ve even been there! A few years ago we drove to Montreal to visit friends, and I made DH drive by so I could take photos (above). It’s very cool … But … but … I am not sure I would want to live there. It looks cold. And like, I bet I would get lost finding my cube. Back in the day, the style did not catch on much either. Interestingly, Wikipedia mentions the failure coming in part due to “poor maintenance” and “urban decay.” Hey: Shouldn’t that be our counterpoint to the “the suburbs suck” pundit-crowd? I am heading into rant territory so I’d better stop. Suffice to say: Suburb-bashing annoys me.
Back to: Brutalism is kinda cool. And especially: That furniture. It surely screams “style!” The more I see of various design styles… understand their raison detre… and see how one design just kind of flows into the next (there usually are not hard “lines”… it’s a river that flows…), the more tolerant of all styles I become.
Quickly surfing around, I see that Jere sculptures also are being called brutalist. Above: Chandelier in the brutalist style by Tom Greene for the Feldman Company, $425, from retrosymphony on etsy.com.
Mr. Modtomic … feel free to tell us more! Many thanks!
Claudia says
I wouldn’t want the whole set, but maybe just one piece would be ok.
The big public library in downtown Atlanta is a good example of brutalist architecture. I love it.
J.D. says
Very nice set. I do appreciate the brutalist furniture, ( less so the architecture) and have a few pieces myself, but I do find it difficult to use well. Large scale pieces in my opinion do not tend to play nice mixed and matched with many other styles, and a room full of the stuff can seem dark and overbearing. Sometimes there is a fine line between a room looking “vintage” and a room looking “dated”, I just couldn’t pull off using an entire bedroom set without it looking the latter. You need a big space and lots of light, something a lot of MC houses were short on. Small brutalist pieces however like my mixed media wall sconces are easier to place and add great texture and interest to a room. My point is even if you can’t see yourself with an entire room of brutalist furniture, or living in a brutalist concrete house, don’t discount the entire style. Look instead to smaller individual pieces such as lamps or clocks. As a style, it really speaks to and evokes without a doubt MCM.
Miguel Santos says
More brutalist sets by Lane (Lane Altavista) that were inspired by Paul Evans work:
http://www.worthpoint.com/pmimages/images1/1/0408/20/1_5c2c7ecbc08a62cca252ed35a589ba92.jpg
http://www.worthpoint.com/pmimages/images1/1/0708/20/1_987c5c74ed1fc416328d1f394bddff06.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sYk-T15Mghc/ST_lPoqh6zI/AAAAAAAAAZc/69JUVVgcbRY/s400/dresser+as+canvas+paul+evans+inspired+lane+furn.+in+oak+$1100.jpg
http://www.1stdibs.com/archivesC/upload/8407/899/l4219062_a_edit.jpg
http://images.vandm.biz/content/images/800×600/lane_003.JPG
magnarama says
Thanks so much for posting those links, Miguel — those pieces are gorgeous.
That Brutalist look seems to especially suit credenzas, which need some catchy style anyway to avoid looking like a big box sitting in your room.
BungalowBILL says
My second grade teacher was French Canadian and taught us all about Expo 67 ( this was 1967 at the time). We all brought in little boxes from home and recreated Habitat 67. Miss Adesserman opened the world for me. She would go to the town library and check out replica sculpture and art and display them in the classroom and teach us about the artists. We learned about her favorite conductor Leonard Bernstein and we went on field trips to the Met. She nurtured the artistic side of all of us and was the most influential teacher I had. Seeing that photo brought me right back to second grade, stacking different sized boxes to make that building.
pam kueber says
what a great story, bb!
Kyle says
My French teacher took us to a French restaurant in NYC, but I hear you loud and clear.
adam says
Now your heading towards my land, for some reason I find the brutalist warm and inviteing..and I want that bedroom set NOWWW !!!
Bird says
Gotta agree with Dave about the awfulness of Brutalist architecture. I hate Boston City Hall. Brutalism is just not my thing.
Gavin Hastings says
Montreal Habitat ’67 – Good
Boston City Hall – Not So Good
Gavin Hastings says
Please substitute the word WOW for the word GOOD.
pam kueber says
why do i think i’d like habitat ’67 better if they painted all the cubes all the colors in a rubik’s cube – red, white, yellow, black, green, orange (?) — i’m perky that way, it guess.
Annie B. says
And maybe ’cause it’s Greige…….??
pam kueber says
haha
Kyle says
Because you are younger than me, but I can see that, This would never happen in Quebec.
Sandie Sinatra says
I, too, never knew what “Brutalist” was, but I like the looks of the above set. It looks very creative like hand-carved wood. And I love anything that looks hand done. I agree that it would shine in a plain setting. And only $249.99?? What a deal for something that looks to be in wonderful condition. I like the chandelier, too, as it also looks hand-created. So who knew I would like “Brutalist”??? See, Pam, I learn something new everyday on your blog. Keep up your wonderful info and backstories! 🙂
Dave says
That furniture has to be the only Brutalist thing I’ve seen that looks good. Brutalist architecture on the other hand is harsh cold and unapproachable. It was used extensively from the 60s through the 70s in civic buildings and low cost housing. It often makes buildings look like a fortress. Just look at Boston City Hall, it’s just an awful looking building.
Richard says
You were in montreal?! Wish I had known; I missed my opportunity to bow down in gratitude to thank you for this site, which I come to every day for inspiration and information.
BTW – The Habitat condos – which were conceived of as housing for the urban masses, are not very expensive, with condo fees up the wazzoo.
Richard says
I meant to write “NOW very expensive”, not “NOT” ! oy
Shannon says
I hope whoever buys that set realizes the treasure they got! It would look great in the right setting.
Last month while in London I visited a famous Brutalist complex, the Barbican Estate and Arts Centre. In my own city we have the Manitoba Theatre Centre, described as “one of Canada’s most important small-scale Brutalist designs”. I always thought it was ugly, but I’ve come to appreciate this style more recently.