Brutalist Paris by Nigel Green and Robin Wilson is a book that expands upon their previous collaborative effort, the Brutalist Paris Map (2017). The text's insightful critique and sharp photography provide a detailed examination of Brutalism's historical, political, and cultural significance, with a particular emphasis on its innovative communal design. Through a meticulous analysis of the public spaces of the selected buildings, including their orientation, materials, and facades, Green and Wilson revisit the movement's legacy and its contribution to the field of architecture.
The publication is structured into spatially-oriented chapters that correspond to four distinct geographical regions of Paris - the Centre, Southwest and West, North, East, and Southeast - each highlighting different aspects of Brutalist architecture prevalent in each area. These sections are complemented by a seven-part essay that explores the movement's peripheral occupation of the city, its political and ideological infrastructures, its international collaborations, and its experimental designs during the postwar era. Together, this organization provides a comprehensive analysis of Brutalism in Paris, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in the movement's history and impact on the city's architecture.
