Editing Brutalism (section)

== Critique and Reevaluation ==

Brutalism generated intense criticism that contributed to its abandonment by the late 1970s. The style's rejection of context, human scale, and conventional beauty alienated both general public and architectural critics seeking alternatives to modernist orthodoxy. Postmodern architecture, with its historical references and decorative elements, offered relief from Brutalism's severity. The style became associated with failed urban renewal, authoritarian institutions, and architectural arrogance that ignored user preferences and community context.<ref name="tatum"/>

Recent decades have brought partial reevaluation. Architectural historians recognize Brutalism as significant period in twentieth-century architecture, whatever its aesthetic merits. Some Brutalist buildings have achieved appreciation as bold design statements that required courage to build and would be impossible to replicate today. Preservation efforts have saved selected buildings from demolition, recognizing their historical importance if not their universal appeal. Philadelphia's Brutalist buildings remain contested—neither universally admired nor universally condemned, they provoke the strong reactions their designers likely intended.<ref name="banham"/>