Haptic features of brutalist architecture expressed in projects and buildings

The subject of the article is the perception of tactile and kinesthetic impressions by users of architectural space. The authors present the second phase of a two-stage research procedure regarding the haptics of brutalist architecture. The first stage concerned the theoretical creative assumptions, while the second – the design results, i.e. the constructed buildings. The conducted studies are an attempt to identify and scientifically organize haptic elements in brutalist works. The authors used a heuristic method and the research perspective of extended haptics (including tactile experiences as well as non-tactile experiences that engage the sense of touch). The research material (including 100 buildings) was pre-assessed and selected by the research team according to the selection criteria: spatial properties, spatial relations, material features, surface finishing and embodied spatial experiences. The information obtained was subjected to further analysis based on observation criteria: expression of form, function, structure, and texture. The main goal of the research is to discover, name and scientifically organize the elements of haptic aesthetics present in the works of brutalist architecture. The result of the analyzes is a characterization of the haptic aesthetics of brutalist architecture. The authors distinguished features based on tactile aspects, but also on the cooperation of touch with other senses. They described phenomena occurring on a macro scale – the dynamics of solids and the expression of forces, as well as on a micro scale – surface texture. Research has confirmed the strongly haptic nature of brutalism, based on tactile experiences and haptic imagination.