Brutalia

Brutalia Synopsis

Breaking free from twenty years of fascist rule, Post-war Italy became fertile ground where brutalist architecture was able to flourish. Stark new concrete forms reshaped Italian urban landscapes with bold landmarks; from the iconic Torre Velasca in the centre of Milan to the controversial Vele di Scampia housing complex on the periphery of Naples. This playful and engaging book leads readers around the Italian brutalist architecture, informing curious explorers about its features, failures, and successes, with a special focus on the public housing estates, such as 'Lavatrici' in Genoa, 'Corviale' in Rome, 'Vele di Scampia' in Naples, and Rozzol Melara in Trieste. The first section of Brutalia includes photographs and detailed descriptions of featured buildings and their histories. The second section contains five pre-cut and pre-folded models to press out and assemble - all you need is glue. Featuring a foreword by Italian architect and writer Alessandro Benetti.