Behind the Concrete

I must admit that the reason for sharing this article with you is that during my three-year stay in Stuttgart, many friends, strangers, and colleagues mentioned that the buildings on the University of Stuttgart’s campus—and in Stuttgart in general—are just too grey! But why are they grey? Why were they built the way they are? Let’s find out.

As a former architecture student and still an ardent architecture enthusiast, I felt I could address this topic and share my insights. The perception of these “grey,” bare concrete buildings differs between an architect’s point of view and that of the general public. An architect might see beauty in these concrete structures, but to others, they may seem cold and harsh. The massive grey buildings on the Vaihingen campus, along with the two concrete towers you see on the Stadtmitte campus, can be classified under the brutalist style of architecture.

A small caveat before we get started: this article will focus mainly on the K1 and K2 buildings on Keplerstraße, as I studied at Faculty 1 on the Stadtmitte campus, where I spent most of my time.

Without diving too deep and avoiding an architecture seminar, let me give you a brief overview of what brutalism is and how it relates to the university’s campus buildings. The brutalist style of architecture emerged in the post-war period of the 1950s. Architects at the time designed buildings as a response to the post-war crisis, with a focus on constructing quickly and efficiently. This style is also said to have stemmed from the modernist movement. Germany, the birthplace of the Bauhaus artistic modernist movement, embraced one of its main principles: functionality, or “form follows function.”

Buildings constructed in the 1950s and 1960s in the brutalist style were primarily administrative and governmental buildings, universities, and social housing projects. The predominant materials were exposed concrete (or brick), steel, and glass, giving the buildings a monotone appearance. The K1 and K2 high-rise buildings, built between 1956 and 1964, are characteristic of this period. But did you know there were plans to build a K3? The idea was dropped, though. Where do you think they would have placed a third tower? Something to think about the next time you’re walking around the Stadtmitte campus.

So far, we’ve talked about how these buildings look from the outside. But what are they like on the inside? And what is it like to study and work in one of these buildings? As an architecture student I had visited many brutalist buildings but this was my first time experiencing it as a user.

The large entrance foyer is a multi-purpose space for events, exhibitions, chance meetings, and circulation. On one side is a glass and steel façade overlooking the courtyard between the two towers, while the exposed concrete columns on the other side create an exhibition space where students often display their studio projects. It’s a place to meet, share and experience.

The studios and classrooms are 1.5 times taller than the offices in the K1 and K2 buildings. It just makes sense to have a larger, well-lit studio space for working and collaborating, as that’s where we spend most of our time. My master’s programme studio and offices were on the 8th floor, so I must say, we were lucky with the view we had overlooking Stuttgart. The hallways were bare concrete with staircases leading to offices that had wooden handrails. The glass-covered ends of the corridors provided an opportunity to take a walk, clear your mind, and soak in the views without leaving the building.

It’s a bit ironic that I’m nostalgic about the building where I studied, given that brutalist architecture itself was a reaction against nostalgia. As long as the brutalist buildings are well-used, well-lived and well-maintained, I believe they won’t be considered as a cold grey architectural style.

Lastly, next time someone says the buildings are too grey, tell them to check out the pictures taken by students on the University of Stuttgart’s Instagram. There, you’ll find beautiful colourful moments, seasons, and nature captured on campus!

Kavya