As photographers, it’s often our desire – or even our duty – to find beauty in the mundane or even that which many would deride as ugly. Brutalist architecture is one such thing – although it has plenty of lovers, many find no favour with its stark and oppressive form. Here however, it’s hard to deny the exquisite that can be found from this divisive subject.
Through more than 220 full colour images spanning 90 architectural sites, we get a glimpse at the evolution of South Korean architecture at a time of rapid industrialisation.
We see quite a range of locations, from the bustling streets of Seoul and Paju Book City to the coastal regions of Busan. This is a country that has continued the brutalist tradition, long after others may have left it behind.
As such, as well as older architecture, there’s also more modern examples on display. Some of the biggest names in architecture are included, such as Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando, Jae-hwan Kwak and Chanjoong Kim.
The country’s concrete landmarks include the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, the Daeyang Gallery and House plus the Jeju Glass House via Busan Port International Passenger Terminal. The pictures show us that these locations are not just static monuments, but also living entities that become weather by time and submerge into the fabric of the culture in which they exist.
First emerging in the 1960s and 70s, for Korea, Brutalism was more than a stylistic choice, it was also representative of a national rebuilding. Pioneering architects at the time including Kim Swoo-geun, Kim Chung-up and Seung H-Sang used designs which were characterised by severe geometric lines and modular repetition.
This book follows on from Paul Tulett’s successful earlier volume, Brutalist Japan and is a fantastic way to get a look at a country where arguably few of us are likely to travel to. As well as the gorgeous imagery, there’s also lots of written information to accompany it.
The photographer specialises in post-war modernist and Brutalist architecture across East Asia, while his fantastic Instagram account, @brutal_zen has amassed over 140,000 followers and is also worth checking out.
Brutalist Korea by Paul Tulett is published by Prestel and is available to buy now.
Related reading:
- The 12 best cities for street photography around the world
- These gorgeous monochrome architecture shots will stop you in your tracks today
- Master black and white building photography
Follow AP on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and IRYS.
