Brutalist Plants - Olivia Broome

Brutalist Plants by Olivia Broome / ISBN 9781914314483 / an attractive 208-page hardback, 6 x 8 inches, published in 2024 by Hoxton Mini Press

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Green vs grey, plants vs concrete: 175 images of Brutalist structures interrogated by nature

Brutalist architecture is commonly associated with a cold, austere aesthetic. But architects have long found ways of incorporating greenery into their more brutal designs, creating a striking contrast between the hard and the soft, the cold and the complex, the sharp edges of concrete and shapes of living plants. And even when not designed to do so, nature often has its own way of reclaiming the built environment.

From green roofs to living walls, from the pocket gardens of Le Corbusier’s Unité d’Habitation to the lush courtyards and conservatory of London’s Barbican Centre, Olivia Broome has curated a visual celebration of brutalist plants.