DIY Brutalist architecture

The Tenants

作為鐵幕後的城市地景,粗獷主義建築曾是落後與醜陋的象徵,幸好在冷戰結束後,人們開始重新評價這門建築風格,也開始懂得欣賞清水混凝土的原始感,以及建築背後的現代精神。來到近年,網絡上甚至出現各種粗獷建築的愛好者群組,爭相討論粗獷建築的景點與歷史源流。誠言「重新發現」自是樂趣的一種,但如果能蓋出屬於自己的粗獷主義建築,那麼樂趣無疑就更大了。

Brutalism came to symbolise urban decay and economic hardships behind the Iron Curtain. Yet, heading into the post-Cold War era, the world saw a new appreciation of the architectural style, celebrating the primeval quality of raw concrete as well as the modernism behind its radical porousness. Brutalism even made a comeback in recent years, where focus groups emerged on the internet in conversation about Brutalist architecture and history. Rediscoveries could be pleasurable, but to build your own Brutalist architecture – that’s greater pleasure.

「The Tenants」是一個紙造模型系列,以世界上聞名的粗獷主義、現代主義建築為藍本。這個系列至今為止,複製過的著名建築不計其數,例如是「Paris Brut: Orgues de Flandre」裡的「弗蘭德爾遺產」(Les Orgues de Flandre),以及在更近期的「Eastern Blocks」裡,複製了加里寧格勒那棟一直未完工的蘇維埃宮。如果想有獨創性,又可以參考「Panelki」這一套模型,以立體拼圖的模式,讓人們隨心所欲地利用這些拼圖,組合出心目中最完美的蘇維埃風格房屋。而縱觀這系列的模型,最使人振奮的不僅在組合上的樂趣,而是往日想欣賞粗獷主義建築,無論是通過照片、影片,抑或親身到訪該地,也只能在有限角度下欣賞建築。得到這套「The Tenants」後,能親手「蓋出」這些景點之餘,也能藉著組裝的過程中,細意欣賞之前忽略的建築細節,用3D的角度重新審視這些著名建築。

The Tenants is illustrated paper model kits that recreate Brutalist and modernist edifices, including Les Orgues de Flandre in the “Paris Brut: Orgues de Flandre” series and Kaliningrad’s unfinished House of Soviets in the “Eastern Blocs” series, among others. If you fancy something original, go for the “Panelki” series and assemble your own Soviet-era pre-cast block, panel by panel. There is joy in building things, but the real thrill of getting one’s hands on The Tenants lies in the playful, three-dimensional exploration of some of the most controversial edifices erected in the former Eastern Bloc and beyond – architecture which, until now, could only ever be partially appreciated through the biased lens of photography, film and actual visits.

生產這個「The Tenants」系列的Zupagrafika,是一家來自波蘭的獨立出版社,曾經出版《Brutal East》、《Concrete Siberia》等有關粗獷主義建築的專書,「The Tenants」則是他們在出版品之外的得意傑作。除了上面提到「Brutal East」外,出版社也有推出以東德為題的「Modern East」、倫敦為題的「Brutal London」等模型。如果你剛好是粗獷主義發燒友,但又苦於疲情無法遠行親睹建築,這套「The Tenants」應該能聊以慰藉,也讓你能以視覺以外的方式,來享受粗獷主義的獨特美。

The Tenants is manufactured by Zupagrafika, an independent publisher established in Poland. Zupagrafika are the authors and publishers of such titles as Brutal London (2017) and Concrete Siberia (2020). The Tenants is their award-winning kit alongside “Modern East” and “Brutal London” – perfect for a Brutalist enthusiast stranded by travel restrictions.

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