31 Strikingly Stunning Cement Structures Designed by World-Famous Japanese Architect

Etai Eshet • Editor

Jan 7, 2025 11:30 AM EST

Alright, so brutalist architecture—let me just say upfront that I'm not an expert here. In fact, I might be the furthest thing from one. But hey, why let that stop us from diving headfirst into this concrete jungle of a topic?

Brutalism is this architectural style that popped up in the late 1940s, it's all about raw materials like concrete—lots and lots of concrete. Why? No clue. Do I find myself unable to take my eyes off of these structures? You guessed it, absolutely.

The internet tells me the name Brutalism comes from the French term béton brut, which means "raw concrete," but I speak French just as much as I speak architecture so I'm pretty Clouëlessseauxx about whether that's true or not.

What I do know about these buildings is that they're blocky and bare, geometric and gray, and unapologetically honest.

By the 1970s, people started hating Brutalism because, well, it looked like a concrete apocalypse. But now it's trendy again! Why? Don't know, don't really care, just keep 'em coming.

Anyway, if you want real answers, ask an architect. Let us focus on the Brutalist at the center of our attention today - Tadao Ando.

Ando, according to people who actually know what they’re talking about, is a world-renowned Japanese architect who has turned concrete into an art form. Born in Osaka in 1941, Ando’s life story is so wild it sounds made up: he was a boxer, a carpenter, and then—without any formal training—decided to become an architect. Apparently, he just traveled the world, stared at famous buildings, and thought, “Yeah, I can do that.” and as the pictures prove: he could.
Ando’s style is all about minimalism and nature. He uses raw concrete like it’s fine silk and designs buildings that are both simple and deeply emotional. Ando believes in making people uncomfortable—in a good way. His buildings often lack heating or windows because, as he says, “That’s how nature works.” If you’re cold? Wear another sweater.
Although as I already mentioned, I’m no expert in the field, I personally think you only need a pair of eyes to appreciate Ando’s creations and even less than that to admire a person proving that being stubbornly unconventional can pay off.
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