Brutalist Asia, a new compendium curated by Bob Pang and Blue Crow Media founder Derek Lamberton, explores 140 brutalist structures across 28 Asian countries. The volume documents the continent’s distinct architectural interpretations of the style, highlighting concrete compositions from the mid-20th century onward.
Inter-University Seminar House in Tokyo
Takamasa Yoshizaka designed the Inter-University Seminar House in Hachioji, Tokyo, in 1965. The academic complex features an inverted pyramid main hall. Yoshizaka studied under Le Corbusier, applying modernist principles to Japanese architectural traditions.
Sacred Heart High School for Girls in New Taipei City
Kenzo Tange designed the Sacred Heart High School for Girls in the Bali District of New Taipei City in 1967. The project marks Tange’s only surviving work in Taiwan, showcasing his concrete design framework outside Japan.
Round Building at Mahidol University in Thailand
Amorn Srivong completed the Round Building at Mahidol University in Thailand in 1968. Srivong lacked formal training, yet engineered the structure’s cantilevered concrete elements without standard architectural schooling.
Dafineh Museum in Tehran
Nezam Ameri, Kamal Kamooneh, and Hormozdyar Khosravi designed the Dafineh Museum in Tehran in 1978. The building bears the architectural influence of Frank Lloyd Wright within a brutalist framework.
National Cooperative Development Corporation in India
Kuldip Singh completed the National Cooperative Development Corporation building in 1980. Singh partnered with structural engineer Mahendra Raj, who previously collaborated with Le Corbusier on Chandigarh.
St Stephen’s College Special Room Block in Hong Kong
Tao Ho designed the Special Room Block at St Stephen’s College in Hong Kong in 1981. The project added brutalist classroom blocks and a sports hall in front of the campus’s historic School House.
Kyungdong Presbyterian Church in South Korea
Kim Swoo-geun designed the Kyungdong Presbyterian Church in South Korea in 1981. Time magazine previously compared the architect to Lorenzo de’ Medici for his modernist contributions.
General Post Office in Qatar
British architects Twist and Whitley completed the General Post Office in Qatar in 1985. The structure adapts brutalist design principles to local desert climates.
Cua Tung Writers’ House in Vietnam
Le Huu Thang designed the Cua Tung Writers’ House in Vietnam in 1992 as a sculptural form. Sponsored by the regional Literature and Arts Association, the building reflects post-Đổi Mới architectural shifts.
Interdesign Building in Lebanon
Khalil Khoury designed the Interdesign Building in Beirut, Lebanon, with construction spanning from 1973 to 1997. The project took 23 years to finish due to interruptions from the Lebanese Civil War.
Commonly Asked Questions About Brutalist Architecture in Asia
What does the book cover?
Curators Bob Pang and Derek Lamberton compiled 140 brutalist buildings across 28 Asian nations to examine regional variations of the architectural style.
Who designed the Japanese seminar house?
Takamasa Yoshizaka, a student of Le Corbusier, designed the Inter-University Seminar House in Hachioji, Tokyo, in 1965.
How do international architects factor into regional brutalism?
Firms like British architects Twist and Whitley adapted brutalist construction methods to local climates, such as their work on the 1985 General Post Office in Qatar.
Worth a look