Brutalist Architecture

This lesson explores the architectural style of Brutalism, focusing on its key features, history, and cultural significance. Through a combination of vocabulary activities, a video, and interactive discussions, students will deepen their understanding of Brutalism and apply their knowledge to real-world examples. They will watch a video showcasing five Brutalist buildings in Berlin, summarize the key details, and engage in discussions about the design principles and societal implications of this controversial style. The lesson also includes vocabulary practice, a speaking activity involving research and group discussion, and an optional extra video for those interested in further exploration. This lesson is designed for advanced learners and encourages critical thinking about architecture and its role in urban spaces.

Lead-in

This advanced lesson on Brutalism begins with a simple question: Which definition most accurately describes Brutalism? Students are presented with three options and are asked to read the definitions and explain which one they believe is the best answer on the next page. They will also be introduced to five buildings, which will be explored in the upcoming video. At this stage, no building names are provided—students should discuss the potential functions, describe the structures, and identify any similarities or differences between them.

Vocabulary, Definitions

On the vocabulary preview page, students will read sentences and work on explaining the words used. All the sentences come from the video, encouraging students to come up with accurate explanations and possible synonyms. If they struggle with any terms, they can refer to the next page to check the definitions.

Video, Summary, Questions

The video showcases five Brutalist buildings in Berlin. Students are asked to watch attentively and focus on key details such as each building’s function, history, and unique features. After watching, they will summarize the video using the provided keywords on the next page. Students will take turns with their classmates, selecting one building at a time and summarizing what they remember using the keywords. Following this, a discussion activity will take place with five questions focusing on architecture, design, and Brutalism’s relationship to what is considered “ugly” or “beautiful.”

Practice

The “Odd One Out” activity is a simple task where students are given four words in each box, and they must identify the word that doesn’t belong. Afterward, they will explain their reasoning. Following this, there’s a gap-fill exercise where students use words from the lesson to complete the sentences. By this point, they should be familiar with the vocabulary, so filling in the gaps should be straightforward.

Speaking

In the speaking section, students will conduct research on one Brutalist building (provided on a separate page) and present it to the class. They will then come together in groups to discuss strategies to preserve a Brutalist building from demolition. It’s up to you whether you’d like to assign the research as homework or complete it during class. The second page contains a group discussion activity about saving buildings from demolition, where students can collaborate to devise a strategy.

Extra video

This page is entirely optional. If your students find the topic of Brutalism interesting, you can recommend an extra video that dives deeper into the subject, offering additional examples and context. You may choose to skip this step in class or provide it as extra viewing material for students to explore on their own.