Global Journal of Engineering Sciences (GJES)

       Iris Publishers

Brutalist Architecture in Taiwan.

       Authored by Shin Hung Pan.

In this paper we discuss the origins and development of the brutalist architecture in Taiwan during the 1960s. It provides a detailed survey of an important yet little known chapter in the development of post-war modernist architecture in Taiwan.

Based on the architectonic analysis, the buildings built in the brutalist style in Taiwan during the 1960s can be divided into two categories: concrete expressionism and concrete structuralism. In addition, it was found that there were two main sources for the introduction of brutalist architecture into Taiwan: the public works projects of the Japanese colonial government; American economic assistance and Western missionary activity during the post-war period.

Keywords: Brutalist architecture; Concrete expressionism; Concrete structuralism

Introduction

Following the end of the Japanese colonial era (1895–1945) and the arrival of the Nationalist government from mainland China, traditional Chinese palace architecture soon came into vogue in Taiwan. The other main influence on the architectural diversity of the 1960s was modernism largely introduced as an offshoot of American economic aid and the extensive construction activities of various Western missionary organizations. In this study we trace the origins of the brutalist movement back to the noted French architect Le Corbusier, and present several case studies in Taiwan influenced by his architectural designs. Using a combination of written materials and the results of our own fieldwork, we provide a detailed survey of an important yet little known influence in the development of post-war modernist architecture in Taiwan.

Research Methodology

• Document analysis. Written materials from the 1960s relating to brutalism were collected and analyzed.

• Field survey. We visited numerous buildings throughout Taiwan constructed in the brutalist style in the 1960s, and took photographs showing the texture, hues, and patterns of the unfinished concrete, and how the detail work was carried out.

• Comparative analysis of the case studies. We conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of the case studies in terms of their architectonic and spatial characteristics.

Purpose of the Research

The development of modernist architecture in Taiwan has been deeply influenced by Le Corbusier, who began using sculpted and unfinished concrete on a large scale during the 1950s, an approach which soon evolved into the brutalist architectural style. Amongst the many buildings constructed in the brutalist style in Taiwan during the 1960s, some of the more noteworthy examples are the church (1960) at the Catholic St. Joseph Technical High School in Taidong, designed by the Swiss engineer Justus Dahinden; the Saint Cross Church (1962) in the Houbi District of Tainan, designed by the German architect Gottfried Böhm; and the Sacred Heart Girls High School (1968) in Danshui, designed by the renowned Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. Noteworthy examples designed by local architects trained in Japan are the Laboratory Building at the Taipei Medical University (1965), designed by Frank Wu; and the Wave Building at the Sansin High School of Commerce and Home Economics in Kaohsiung (1963), designed by Ren- He Chen. Each of these buildings will be further examined below.

Discussion

Source of brutalist architecture

Jurgen defined the word ‘brutal’ according to this the word’s origin lies in Le Corbusier’s term ‘béton brut’. As the architecture of ‘International Brutalism’ was modeled on Le Corbusier’s vocabulary of form [1]. Brutalist Architecture was generally characterized by its rough, unfinished surfaces, unusual shapes, heavy-looking concrete materials. Since the 1950s, western architects have used this new architectural performance to express their response to International Style. The performance of architects on concrete materials is very common, especially for Le Corbusier, who show the real texture of concrete building materials,‘ béton brut’ is exposed concrete and unfinished concrete. Le Corbusier’s architecture often uses exposed concrete and unfinished concrete.

Brutalist architecture is generally characterized by its unusual shapes, a heavy appearance, and rough, unfinished surfaces made of exposed concrete. The term ‘brutalism’ is derived from the French term béton brut, where béton, is ‘concrete’, and brut means ‘raw’, ‘rough’, or ‘unfinished’. The concrete formwork is typically made of unplanned wood, the grain, texture, and seams of which become imprinted on the surface of the concrete. The strong lines and the exposed concrete, either alone or in combination with other materials (typically brick, glass, steel, rough-hewn stone, or gabions), combine to create a rustic, sculpted appearance, reminiscent of the heavy masses prevalent in European architectural design in the post-World War Two reconstruction period, during which extensive use was made of both ready-made materials, as well as whatever materials happened to be available on or near the construction site, such as rough stones, brick fragments, and unplanned wood. Le Corbusier was amongst the first architects to make extensive use of unfinished materials, including rough stones, unfinished bricks, and unfinished concrete, thereby laying the foundation for the style which soon came to be known as brutalism, and which has played an important role in the development of modern architecture, yet hasn’t received much scholarly attention.

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