humane design

Example of architectural brutalism at the offices of HUD in Washington, DCBruce Bawer, whose writings on theology I've recently enjoyed, recently discovered "brutalist" architecture.  In his blog, he writes,

" As soon as I saw the word I thought immediately of my alma mater, Stony Brook, where several structures, including dormitories I lived in, were ugly concrete monstrosities that seemed to scream out: "Life sucks!  Beauty is a lie!"  Living, eating, studying, and attending classes in these bunkers – which, it turns out, are indeed products of brutalism (the aptest name ever) – one felt one was being given a big, undeserved daily "fuck you" by some architect who'd designed these things, cashed the check, and then gone off to live in pleasanter surroundings." (emphasis added)