Last month, President Trump signed an executive order mandating classical and traditional architecture for federal buildings and admonishing the use of brutalist architecture in D.C. While the District’s brutalist buildings have certainly drawn a fair amount of hate, am I the only one who kind of adores them?
Love them or hate them, they have become a central part of D.C.’s iconography over the years and here’s why.
What Qualifies As Brutalism?
Many think Brutalism refers to the brutal or harsh looking quality of the buildings. But actually, it comes from the term béton brut, meaning raw concrete. It was at its peak in D.C. in the 60s and 70s and still makes up a large part of the city with its bold geometric shapes and utilitarian feel.
Why Does DC Have So Much Brutalism?
Following World War II, the federal government expanded dramatically in D.C. As the number of federal agencies grew, they needed space to bring all their employees to the District. Brutalism offered a quick and inexpensive way to build office buildings. So D.C. ended up with tons of buildings — like the HUD and the FBI buildings — that break the city’s otherwise Neoclassical style.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 1978. (Smithsonian Archives)
Our Favorite DC Brutalism Icons
🍩 The Hirshhorn:
When the Hirshhorn opened in 1974, architecture critics had a field day, calling it “the largest doughnut in the world,” “an illuminated babka,” and “a gesture of urbanistic arrogance.” The museum — funded by Joseph Hirshhorn and designed by Gordon Bunshaft — had a particularly rocky start. Before opening, the designer of the first exhibition died, there was a bribery scandal, and some paintings were stolen. So, not the biggest hit at first, but now it’s seen as a prime example of brutalist architecture around the world.
🚆 The Metro:
D.C. Metro is an under-celebrated modernist masterpiece. Designed by Harry Weese and opened in 1976, Metro’s deeply coffered, column-free vaults evoke the descent into Hades and are a classic example of Brutalism in D.C. The design is also extremely practical. The ceiling design encourages airflow that keeps stations cool without A/C and softens the sound of incoming trains. The low, indirect lighting serves up dramatic shadows reminiscent of a moody cocktail bar, thanks to lighting designer William Lam.
🏢 J. Edgar Hoover Building:
Currently home of the FBI headquarters (although not for much longer), the J. Edgar Hoover Building is famously crumbling. The 1970s brutalist behemoth has consistently been deemed as the “the ugliest building in the world” and may be the District's most universally reviled landmark. But at 2.8 million square feet, it provided much needed government office space when it opened in 1975.
