Striking photos show nature reclaiming brutalist concrete

Brutalism, sometimes referred to as “New Brutalism,” is an architectural style typified by its imposing form, use of geometric shapes and clean lines, exposed concrete, and monochromatic color schemes.

Its popularity peaked between the 1950s and ‘70s and it’s commonly associated with the UK and Eastern Europe, but this international style has its roots in much earlier 20th-century structures from around the world, particularly those of Swiss architect Le Corbusier, whose work prioritized functionality and large, sculptural shapes.

Born in the UK, Broome grew up in Geneva, Switzerland, which first sparked her interest in Brutalism. “Where I grew up, there were a lot of mountains and concrete,” she said, adding that in Geneva there were a lot of buildings by Le Corbusier: “Looking back, (Brutalist buildings) feel like a homely space for me.”

The “Brutalist Plants” platform started as a hobby: Broome shared images on Tumblr before she moved it to Instagram in 2018. The account reposts the work of photographers, with tags and credits, and as the community has grown into the tens of thousands, many photographers and content creators now submit work to her.

Broome was attracted to the images because of the contrast of the cold concrete with the softness of nature, which has an ambiguous “dystopian or utopian feel.”