An Architectural Argument: Is Eco Brutalism the Foundation of Sustainability, or its Destruction?
- Born For Stem
- 11 nov.
- 5 min de lecture
By Bryan Duong Milstead
As cities increasingly develop their infrastructure, the size and scale of its needs grow proportionally — which also means that more resources must be harvested. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in 2020 alone, urban areas collectively contributed about three-quarters of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (Keith, 2024). This is due to various factors, with the main aggravator being fossil fuel combustion for electricity, heat, and transportation.
Moreover, widespread industrialization efforts are the bane of biodiversity as nightclubs replace natural habitats and malls disregard Mother Nature. Dennis D. Murphy from the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University indicates in a 1988 report that, "urban areas are effectively synonymous with ecosystem disruption and the erosion of biological diversity. (National Academies Press, 1988). Murphy continues by emphasizing how cities can embolden negative interspecific relationships, in which competition for food is heightened and standard predator-prey dynamics are heavily altered (National Academies Press, 1988).
Fortunately, scientists and architects have been diligently working to devise practical solutions for preventing the demise of our earth. Eco-brutalism, particularly, has been gaining ground for its juxtaposition of greenery with very "brutal" design elements, such as robust concrete structures (Bowler, 2023). This architectural style is often known for emulating distant dystopias, and is associated with the post-war reconstruction of Europe (Poston, 2025). Though brutalist structures are meant to emphasize practicality over sustainability, their incorporation of trees, rainwater collection systems, and other ecological apparatuses have made their purpose less unilateral. Eco-brutalism is truly the intersection between climate-sensitive design strategies and grandiose structures (Poston, 2025).
However, this does not completely free eco-brutalism from scrutiny. Is it a real solution to our environmental concerns, or are we just using shades of green to obscure the underlying issue of how our urban buildings are constructed?
Figure 1: A comparison of brutalist architecture to the more sustainable, visually appealing
"eco-brutalism". Notice the repeatedly occurring greenery throughout the entirety of the right
building (Sustainable Slice, 2023).
The Pros of Eco-Brutalist Architecture:
We will firstly focus on the benefits of eco-brutalism, or its most promising characteristics for
continued application. A deep analysis of socioeconomic and engineering-based factors will be
made, in an effort to best evaluate the overall implications of this architectural movement.
Additionally, we will take a look at the concerns of eco-brutalism and how they can be
addressed.
Viable Means of Integration: the amount of time and money required to demolish
already existing concrete/steel structures could potentially cause greater harm than when
the buildings were first constructed. Therefore, many argue that eco-brutalism is a
realistic method of implementing plants into our urban spaces without completely
upheaving existing structures. This is especially important for historically/culturally
significant sites that simply cannot be destroyed. For example, take the Boston City Hall,
which has adopted more sustainable practices through a process known as “retrofitting”
(Nogueira, 2024). Eco-brutalism enters the situation as a functional approach to
sustainability.
Energy Efficiency: other than aesthetics and environmental motives, eco-brutalism
champions energy efficiency (Sustainable Business Magazine, 2025). Advanced
insulation techniques and solar panels are often integrated into eco-brutalist structures,
which provide clean energy to buildings (Sustainable Business Magazine, 2025).
Complexities and Nuances: eco-brutalism is more than just flowers and leaves stuck on
concrete extremities. Instead, it comprises the world's most innovative green features,
like indoor vertical gardens and moss covered facades (Solomon, 2025). One of the
largest problems urban planners face is the "heat-island" effect, in which a developed area
lacking any sort of greenery is bound to get way, way hotter than nearby rural areas. The
US Environmental Protection Agency reports in 2017 that, "the annual mean air
temperature of a city with 1 million people or more can be 1.8–5.4°F (1–3°C) warmer
than its surroundings. In the evening, the difference can be as high as 22°F (12°C).”
Figure 2: A simplified diagram of temperature levels compared to other livable areas. Urban heat islands can amplify air conditioning costs and heat-related illnesses (Fuladlu, Riza and Ilkan, 2018).
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Complexities and Nuances, continued: Therefore, eco-brutalism's emphasis on green roofing/siding would ensure that sunlight could be absorbed for natural processes like photosynthesis, as opposed to getting trapped in concrete, asphalt, or steel. Aesthetics: eco-brutalism is meant to challenge the notion that urban spaces have, and will always, be bleak frameworks of gray fortresses. It encourages a beautiful outlook on life (literally) by bringing the forest to citizens who lack accessibility to natural landscapes. The intermingling of two things that represent connections to the earth and mankind serves as something visually/socially interesting.
The Cons of Eco-Brutalist Architecture:
Materials Involved: some experts in the fields of architecture and environmental science highlight that eco-brutalism is like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound. Rather than relying on greenery to suppress the negative effects of concrete/steel, cities could alternatively invest in eco-friendly building materials such as hemp rebar. Hemp rebar is extremely carbon-sequestering (meaning it captures CO₂ molecules) and is currently in development at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York (Center for Architecture Science and Ecology, 2024). It aims to be a low-cost, low-carbon alternative to standard steel rebar that also avoids the problem of corrosion, extending the lifespan of structures. Furthermore, hemp is a multi-purpose crop that requires little irrigation or usage of pesticides.
Figure 3: A photo of composite hemp rebar preform. It a natural fiber thermoplastic composite alternative for the construction industry, and strives to be a more economic alternative to stainless steel and fiber-reinforced polymer (Center for Architecture Science and Ecology, 2024).●
Overcoming Existing Building Codes/Physical Limitations: Many regulations do not accommodate the large-scale integration of flora into existing buildings. Green roofing and vertical gardens require complex irrigation/drainage systems that might interfere with structural integrity (Holmes, 2023). This could put lives at risk, especially with regards to older structures that simply aren't designed to carry trees, watering systems, and other eco-brutalist elements.
Conclusion, and What We Can Learn from Eco-Brutalism:
Eco-brutalism, despite its many shortcomings, remains at the forefront of initiatives to build a sustainable future whilst simultaneously considering the architectural foundations that have already been established. Becoming harmonious with nature is now more important than ever, as it could determine society's ability to flourish with urban developments, or crumble under the weight of environmental neglect.
Reference list
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Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (2024). Center for Architecture Science and
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Available at: https://www.case.rpi.edu/researchprojects/hemprebar.
Fuladlu, K., Riza, M. and Ilkan, M. (2018). Figure 1. The effect of Urban Heat Island (UHI).
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Holmes, N. (2023). Four Barriers to Implementing Green Roofs – And How to Overcome Them |
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w-to-overcome-them-fa23.
Keith, M. (2024). Expert comment: Urbanisation’ s role in the climate crisis is being overlooked |
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Nogueira, M.C. (2024). Eco Brutalism: A Harmonious Blend or a Stark Contrast? [online]
UGREEN. Available at: https://ugreen.io/eco-brutalism-a-harmonious-blend-or-a-stark-contrast/.
Poston, O. (2025). Understanding Eco Brutalism: The Paradox of Structure, Sustainability, and
Style. [online] ArchDaily. Available at:
inability-and-style.Solomon, A. (2025). What is eco-brutalism? Inside the green monoliths of the movement.
[online] Wallpaper*. Available at: https://www.wallpaper.com/architecture/eco-brutalism.
Sustainable Business Magazine (2025). Eco Brutalism: Exploring the Future of Sustainable
Brutalism in Design. [online] Sustainable Business Magazine. Available at:
nable-brutalism-in-design/.
Sustainable Slice (2023). Is Eco Brutalism A New Chapter In Sustainable Architecture? [online]
sustainableslice.com. Available at: https://sustainableslice.com/eco-brutalism/.
US Environmental Protection Agency (2017). Heat Island Effect. [online]
19january2017snapshot.epa.gov. Available at:
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