How to Save Brutalism From the Wrecking Ball
A new exhibit examines the history of Brutalist architecture in Washington, DC, offering provocative solutions for some of the city’s least-understood buildings.
L’Enfant Plaza is a destination for Brutalism lovers.
Photographer: Ty Cole
There’s no easy fix for a problem like the James V. Forrestal Building.
Home to the US Department of Energy, the federal office complex spans several blocks along the National Mall in Washington, DC. The main building stands on concrete pilottis, like a horizontal skyscraper erected on stilts, to promote traffic circulation within the federal enclave. The Forrestal was nicknamed the “Little Pentagon” because it was originally built to house staff from the US Department of Defense, and maybe also because it resembles a rationalized fortress.