Culture Talk

We should stop demolishing brutalist buildings just because they're 'ugly'

In Singapore, many people of my generation grew up around big concrete buildings from the 70s. Golden Mile Complex was the famous one, and I was glad when it was conserved instead of torn down. A lot of people called it an eyesore. I always found it bold.

As an electrician I've worked inside a few of these old blocks. The services are a nightmare, I won't lie. But the structures are honest. You can see how the building stands up. There's a kind of confidence in them that new glass towers don't have.

I think 'ugly' is often just 'unfashionable'. Victorian buildings were called ugly once too. Are there brutalist buildings in your city that you'd fight to keep?