Brutalism in Britain: An Architecture of the Dramatic and Controversial

Overview

New Brutalism had its origins in the ideas of Alison and Peter Smithson, expressed in their steel-framed Hunstanton school, and was made widely known by the writings of the architectural critic Reyner Banham. The style however became most closely associated with the monochrome form of exposed unpainted concrete. In France Le Corbusier had termed this use of raw concrete as béton brut.

We will examine the Brutalist style of the 1950s and 1960s in the wider context of British Modernism. This will take in its range of uses including housing projects such as Chambelin, Powell and Bon’s Barbican Centre in the City of London, commercial projects such as the Smithson's Economist buildings in St James's, theatre and concert-going on London's South Bank, and new building for the universities, notably making its mark in the Oxford Colleges.

The course will combine presentations based on a wealth of images and drawings with group discussions, backed up by illustrated notes for each meeting.

Programme details

Course starts Wednesday 1 October 2025

This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Wednesdays, 7-9pm.

Week 1: Brutalism in Civic and Commercial Buildings

Week 2: Entertainment – London's South Bank and More

Week 3: Education and Research – a Place for Ziggurats?

Week 4: Does Brutalist Style Work for Housing?

Week 5: How the Churches Embraced Concrete

Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.

After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee £180.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. See details of our concessionary fees for short courses.

Tutor

Mr Keith Hasted

Keith's book on Modernist Architecture in Britain was published in 2019. His initial research focus was in Italian Renaissance palace architecture, and he has since developed a special interest in the architecture of cathedrals, not only in England but also in mainland Europe. He teaches courses in architectural history for the Oxford University Continuing Education weekly programme and Summer School.

Course aims

  • To enable learners to investigate the Brutalist architectural style in Britain and assess its merits and limitations.
  • To understand the context in which Brutalism was developed in Britain.
  • To examine the perception of Brutalist architecture, assessing the comparison between buildings seen as successful against those which have attracted adverse criticism.

Teaching methods

  • Weekly presentations with visual images
  • Weekly classroom discussions and case studies
  • Illustrated notes provided each week

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course students will have been given the opportunity to have learnt how to:

  • appreciate the origin and development of the Brutalist style in Britain; 
  • recognise the key architectural features of the style; and
  • understand how Britain's architecture moved on from this phase of Modernism.

Assessment methods

This course is not accredited, so there are no assessments or coursework.

Application

Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.