Brutal(ism) Love and Hate
Visionary architecture or concrete nightmare? Make up your own mind as our expert panel leads a lively discussion unravelling brutalism’s rise, fall and future.
Is it true what they say…? Is the Southbank Centre ‘Britain’s ugliest building’, as readers of the Daily Mail voted it back in 1967? Or is it a pinnacle of the ‘new brutalism’ movement, a gem encapsulating a radical architectural vision?
Join us for a celebration and critique of brutalism – a style that evokes the strongest of emotions and has shaped public and private housing, cultural buildings and beyond.
Taking up the concrete mantle and leading a lively discussion on what they love and hate about this moment in architecture, is author, journalist, cultural commentator and President of the Twentieth Century Society, Samira Ahmed; Eva Branscome, Professor of Architecture and Cultural Heritage at UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture; John Grindrod, author of How to Love Brutalism; architectural poet Lionheart; influencer and digital creator Noris Obijiaku, known online as MrChuck (@thedesignsuite); and architectural historian and Southbank Centre governor Sandy Rattray.
Using the Southbank Centre’s own Grade II-listed buildings as a starting point, our speakers cover the broad sweep of brutalism from its early 1950s beginnings until its abrupt end marked by the completion of the Barbican Centre in 1982.
Our panel is asking all the big questions: Is brutalism (or ‘béton brut’ – raw concrete) brutal or beautiful? Can we love it today? Were the people who wanted to tear it down right? How do you look after brutalist buildings? Is all of brutalism grey? Why did brutalist architects dislike the term?
Need to know
A pre-talk architecture tour is available to book as an optional add-on for £12 when you buy a ticket to Brutal(ism) love and hate. The tour starts at 2.30pm and lasts approximately one hour, and begins at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Artists’ Entrance.
Hear from those who know our buildings and their history inside out, and get all your questions answered about the architecture of the Southbank Centre.
Tours can be made step-free. The tours use headsets which are compatible with most hearing aids. Please contact us if you have any access requirements or questions at [email protected] or 020 3879 9555. The Southbank Centre is a working building and we cannot guarantee access to all areas of our site.
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
27 Sep 2026, 4pm
Run time
1 hour and 15 minutes (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £13 + £4 booking fee
Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
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For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
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Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
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From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.