Bunkers, Brutalism & Bloodymindedness: Concrete Poetry

Heritage Council of Victoria and Open House Melbourne present a BBC FOUR two-part documentary in which Jonathan Meades makes the case for 20th-century concrete Brutalist architecture in homage to a style that he sees as brave, bold and bloody-minded. Tracing its precursors to the once-hated Victorian edifices described as Modern Gothic and before that to the unapologetic baroque visions created by John Vanbrugh, as well as the martial architecture of World War II, Meades celebrates the emergence of the Brutalist spirit in his usual provocative and incisive style. Never pulling his punches, Meades praises a moment in architecture he considers sublime and decries its detractors.

The evening will include a prescreening Q&A with architecture luminary, Graeme Gunn.

Thursday 12 May from 6.30pm
ACMI, Fed Square, Melbourne
Free, seating is limited
Tickets can be collected on the day from ACMI

Bunkers, Brutalism and Bloodymindedness: Concrete Poetry is part of a broader Open House Melbourne program called ’What’s the beef with Brutalism?’ – a series of screenings, talks and tours that consider people’s beef with Béton brut, explore the social significance of the style, and consider what is the new, new brutalism?

Presented by Heritage Council of Victoria

Supported by ACMI