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Brutalist Churches

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71–80 of 81 posts

Re: Brutalist Churches

#71

If you're ever in Reykjavík, check out the Hallgrímskirkja. Completed in 1986, located visibly, on a hill. From outside it's very impressive, with the soaring spire shaped (IMHO) like a supersonic aircraft ascending vertically. A stone angel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallgr%C3%ADmskirkja https://www.re.is/is/blog/guide-to-hallgrimskirkja-church-re... https://yourfriendinreykjavik.com/hallgrimskirkja-a-tribute-..…

Ah yes, the church of The Binomial Distribution. Quite a sight. And if you're in Reyjkavík anyways, you should go visit my favourite brutalist church, Áskirkja. Straight out of the Lord of the Rings. https://live.staticflickr.com/5743/22683689714_cff8ae8af1_b....

Also, don't miss out on the botanical garden and its café, it's right around the corner!

Re: Brutalist Churches

#72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haven't the churches been [historically] oppressive?

Depends on your scale. On one hand, all institutions are oppressive at some level. On the other, Christianity is the foundation of the free society you (most likely) live in.

I wouldn’t give so much credit to Christianity, or any religion. The modern west is built on enlightenment ideas, not least of which is the separation of church and state.

Re: Brutalist Churches

#73
post #20
post #4

It seems like most new churches in Finland are brutalist concrete slabs at least from outside. They are called "defense bunkers against devil" Some pictures: https://twitter.com/sorjonen_fi/status/916606080154767361 https://twitter.com/ArtoNatkynmaki/status/168386825764259020... https://fi.wiktionary.org/wiki/piruntorjuntabunkkeri#/media/...

Not just the new ones - it's a very scandinavian lutheran trend. Tapiloa Church for e.g. https://www.google.com/maps/@60.1783778,24.8091179,3a,75y,15... However there's also the church in the rock which is absolutely stunning and worth a visit. https://www.temppeliaukionkirkko.fi/en/index/nimi.html#

Wow that google street view image is unspeakably grim. Looks better flipping through photos on google maps. Looks like the other side has some big windows.

Re: Brutalist Churches

#74
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many of the brutalist churches I’ve seen do not, IMO, “evoke feelings of oppression” (aside from any one might have as a result of personal conflict with the religious institution behind them, which is a separate issue.) Including, I should mention, most of those in TFA.

I suppose we just have to chalk it up to different tastes in art. To me, my first thought on seeing most of those pictures is how they look like settings for some implausibly dystopian sci-fi movie.

Yeah, it's different tastes. I'm split on these in a different way than I've seen in the other comments, because I generally hate brutalist buildings from the outside, but think the interiors are fantastic (including most in TFA). When it comes to churches I think that's somehow symbolically appropriate.

Re: Brutalist Churches

#75
post #67
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't. Are you telling me that you look at this and think "what a lazy design"? https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2024/04/sacred-modernity-b...

30 seconds of Google search https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/wp-content/uploads/2020... You think this is well thought.

That isn't one of the buildings we were talking about. Indeed, in the post you responded to, I contrasted them with

> hulking concrete bunkers like some of the institutional brutalism you see.

Please make more thoughtful responses in the future.

Re: Brutalist Churches

#76
post #75
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

30 seconds of Google search https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/wp-content/uploads/2020... You think this is well thought.

That isn't one of the buildings we were talking about. Indeed, in the post you responded to, I contrasted them with > hulking concrete bunkers like some of the institutional brutalism you see. Please make more thoughtful responses in the future.

We were generally talking about brutalism and I searched shortly about sloppy designed example (besides many real life example I am unlucky forced to see)

Please think more next why people disagree with your opinion. Also see it as a hind to be more thoughtful why brutalism is so unpopular.

Re: Brutalist Churches

#77
post #20
post #4

It seems like most new churches in Finland are brutalist concrete slabs at least from outside. They are called "defense bunkers against devil" Some pictures: https://twitter.com/sorjonen_fi/status/916606080154767361 https://twitter.com/ArtoNatkynmaki/status/168386825764259020... https://fi.wiktionary.org/wiki/piruntorjuntabunkkeri#/media/...

Not just the new ones - it's a very scandinavian lutheran trend. Tapiloa Church for e.g. https://www.google.com/maps/@60.1783778,24.8091179,3a,75y,15... However there's also the church in the rock which is absolutely stunning and worth a visit. https://www.temppeliaukionkirkko.fi/en/index/nimi.html#

Near(ish) where I grew up there is a Lutheran church also has that domed flying saucery look about it.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7109737,-87.849723,3a,75y,35...

Their domain is pretty funny too: https://www.spaceshipchurch.org/ :')

Re: Brutalist Churches

#78
People might need interested in this Irish documentary

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This film essay looks closely at a rupture, the demolition of a church in Dublin through a portrait of the building’s dismantling.

While the cultural meaning of the end of this building has been marked by its community through ritual events, this project comes from a new materialist perspective, drawing attention to the life of the fabric of the church. Produced in collaboration with architectural historian Ellen Rowley, and featuring oral interviews recorded in Finglas, the film points to questions of sustainability in architecture such as counting the embodied energy of this church. Tracing how materials were financed, grown and crafted, the project will provide scope for audiences to reflect on the life of the building itself, socially, culturally, and environmentally.

https://fiona-hallinan.com/Making-Dust

Re: Brutalist Churches

#79
post #76
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That isn't one of the buildings we were talking about. Indeed, in the post you responded to, I contrasted them with > hulking concrete bunkers like some of the institutional brutalism you see. Please make more thoughtful responses in the future.

We were generally talking about brutalism and I searched shortly about sloppy designed example (besides many real life example I am unlucky forced to see) Please think more next why people disagree with your opinion. Also see it as a hind to be more thoughtful why brutalism is so unpopular.

Yeah, I mean it seems to me you just searched for some random picture and made literally no commentary about it. It looks completely fine.

I always find it weird when people have this „everyone hates it“ attitude with no real commentary whatsoever.

Re: Brutalist Churches

#80
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We were generally talking about brutalism and I searched shortly about sloppy designed example (besides many real life example I am unlucky forced to see) Please think more next why people disagree with your opinion. Also see it as a hind to be more thoughtful why brutalism is so unpopular.

Yeah, I mean it seems to me you just searched for some random picture and made literally no commentary about it. It looks completely fine. I always find it weird when people have this „everyone hates it“ attitude with no real commentary whatsoever.

I made several comments on this thread about the problem on this architecture.

Do you live in a area with brutalism ? (if not , why do you like it?) Have you ask random passengers about their opinion?

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