Capital Brutalism

By Angela Person and Ty Cole / Foreword by Aaron Betsky

Amid the Cold War, urban renewal efforts ushered in a “Brutalist” phenomenon that reshaped Washington, D.C., in the mid-20th century.  Many high-profile public buildings were designed and constructed in the nation’s capital, with exposed structural elements and building materials, including concrete, brick, steel, and glass.  They were viewed as cost-effective and efficient, but many haven’t aged well, and public reaction continues to debate their architectural significance.

Capital Brutalism explores the history, current state, and future of seven of these polarizing buildings and the WMATA Metro system in Washington, D.C.  This exhibition catalog highlights archival documents, drawings, construction photographs, and contemporary photographs to provide context and shed light on the buildings’ stories.

Included are the works of architectural masters Marcel Breuer, Gordon Bunshaft, John Carl Warnecke, Harry Weese, and others. Selected buildings are reimagined by leading architecture firms, including Studio Gang, Brooks + Scarpa, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Gensler, and BLDUS, along with students from the School of Architecture at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The National Building Museum’s presentation of this exhibition was supported by the American Institute of Architects and on view in Washington, D.C., from June 1, 2024, to February 17, 2025.  The Capital Brutalism exhibition was co-curated by Dr. Angela Person, associate professor of architecture at the University of Oklahoma, and architectural photographer Ty Cole.

Published by the National Building Museum, 2024.  Paperback, 128 pages / 93 images.

Code:  169107

Member Price:  $24.25