Where to find the architecture of The Brutalist movie in Singapore

A big winner at the Golden Globes in January 2025 was The Brutalist, a drama film starring American actor Adrien Brody as fictional Hungarian architect Laszlo Toth.

The film

took home trophies in three major categories:

Best Motion Picture – Drama; Best Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama; and Best Director. It has also been nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Directed by American film-maker Brady Corbet,

the movie follows Toth as he builds a new life

in the United States after fleeing the Jewish Holocaust during World War II. 

According to Corbet, who co-wrote the film, Toth was based on real-life figures including Hungarian-German architect Marcel Breuer. Breuer is known for designing iconic furniture such as the Cesca chair, but is also considered to be a leading figure in the mid-century Brutalist design movement. 

Some of his key architectural contributions include the Unesco headquarters in Paris and the New York City building now known as the Met Breuer, formerly the Whitney Museum of American Art. 

Brutalist architecture rose to prominence in the 1950s as the trending post-war aesthetic, with an emphasis on raw materials and rough surfaces, massive forms that evoke a sense of scale, and a utilitarian feel. 

Its use of plain concrete and its focus on minimalist functionality made it an obvious choice for many of the places that had to be rebuilt after World War II.

But some have argued that it was also a response to the ravages of war, when many people gravitated towards honesty, bluntness and simplicity in both their personal philosophies and visual aesthetics.

The name “brutalism” comes from “breton brut” – French for raw concrete, which is a signature of Brutalist buildings.

Famous ones around the world include the Geisel Library of the University of California, San Diego, the US. Another is the Habitat 67 housing complex in Montreal, Canada, designed by Israel-born architect Moshe Safdie, who is also the mind behind Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi Airport.

Singapore, too, has its own Brutalist architecture. The Straits Times highlights five buildings that have dominated the Republic’s skyline. Consider it a preview with local elements before The Brutalist drops into Singapore cinemas on Feb 20.

1. Golden Mile Complex

This landmark was designed by architects William Lim, Tay Kheng Soon and Koh Seow Chuan of the firm now known as DP Architects, and was completed in 1973. It was an early example of a mixed-use development not just in Singapore but also Asia, and comprised residential flats, offices and retail shops.

It was envisioned as a “concrete megastructure”, thereby embodying two key traits of Brutalist architecture. 

2. State Courts Building

This building no longer houses the State Courts – the Family Justice Courts moved in towards the end of 2024 – but the moniker has lingered in colloquial parlance, perhaps because of its memorable octagonal shape.

The fortress-like building, with its angular lines and lack of ornamentation, is an example of how Brutalist architecture can be timeless in its visual appeal and impact. It was designed by architect Sonny Chan.  

3. People’s Park Complex

Like Golden Mile Complex, People’s Park Complex was also designed by DP Architects, was completed in 1973, and comprised a mix of residential homes and commercial spaces. It holds a spot in Singaporeans’ hearts as a relic of a time and place made obsolete by rapid modernisation.

Although it now sports a yellow and green scheme, its facade was originally finished in raw concrete – which, together with its stern geometric structure, kept it in the sphere of traditional Brutalism.

4. Jurong Town Hall 

Singapore’s Brutalist architecture was not limited to the city centre. In the west, Jurong Town Hall is a symbol of Singapore’s industrial aspirations – and as a striking manifestation of Brutalist ideals, with its utilitarian structure and unadorned facade.  

Construction was completed in 1974, after which it served as the headquarters of Jurong Town Corporation until 2000. Now, it houses trade associations and chambers. Architect Lim Chong Keat led the team that designed the landmark.

5. Pearl Bank Apartments

The 38-storey cylindrical cinder block known as the Pearl Bank Apartments no longer exists. But, for 44 years until its demolition in 2020, the horseshoe-shaped residential complex was a beloved emblem of Brutalist architecture, with its colossal structure and raw concrete exterior. 

The design by Singapore architect Tan Cheng Siong also showcased the bold, inventive style that informed the country’s aesthetic in the years immediately following independence.