Comments on: Modernist signal box

By: shannonocean

shannonocean — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:34:35 +0000

Yeah, if it was white it might look more Modern but the grey gives it that raw, unpainted concrete Brutal look. Then again, Brutalist stuff might not have those arches and just go for right angles. Either way, a great moc, nicely spotted Tim!

By: ronan.dragonov

ronan.dragonov — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:58:21 +0000

I think the use of curved arches and curved bricks suggest the Streamline Moderne style.

By: alldarker

alldarker — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:20:48 +0000

Gonna have to agree it seems more influenced by Brutalist architecture than by Modernism. Modernism is often ‘optimistic’ and futuristic, inspired by the ’40′s and ’50′s impressions of the ‘space age’.
Brutalism is inspired more by efficiency of building. Interestingly enough, the red walls have been built up with 2×1 plates suggesting bricks, while Brutalist architecture is most often associated with concrete buildings (Brutalism is derived from the French ‘béton brut’; raw concrete).
To be honest, I’d say maybe we’re overthinking the architectural inspiration just a bit: the design of this signal box seems primarily to be functional (narrow base, concrete skeleton, brick walls), rather than architectural. But there’s no doubt it’s pretty!