The term neo-brutalism was first articulated by Hans Asplund in 1950 during a lighthearted observation regarding the Villa Göth in Uppsala, which had been designed by Bengt Edman and Lennart Holm. This label subsequently traveled to England via visiting architects, eventually becoming a foundational definition within architectural discourse for a specific movement.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1921 in Utö parish, Hans Asplund was the son of architect Gunnar Asplund and Gerda Sellman. He completed his formal architectural training at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm between 1944 and 1947. Shortly after his graduation, he secured first prize in a design competition for a community centre located in Eslöv. His early professional path included international experience at the United Nations architectural office in New York from 1947 to 1948, followed by a tenure at Kooperativa förbundets arkitektkontor until 1950 and Nordiska Kompaniet from 1951 to 1953.
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Throughout his career, Asplund maintained a balance between active design work and academic responsibilities. He contributed to the 1948 Summer Olympics by participating in the architecture event as part of the art competition. Notable projects from his professional portfolio include the Medborgarhuset in Eslöv and a 1963 extension for the Nordiska Kompaniet department store in Stockholm. From 1964 until 1987, he served as a professor of architecture at Lund University of Technology, where he influenced architectural theory through his teaching.
Critical Stance on Modernism
While Asplund spent a significant portion of his life working within the modernist tradition, he eventually developed a rigorous critique of the movement. This shift in perspective culminated in the 1980 publication of his book, Farväl till functionalism. Within this text, he provided a systematic review of the perceived deficiencies inherent in modernist architectural practices, signaling his departure from the movement he had practiced for decades.
Fast facts
- Born: 1921, Utö parish
- Died: 1994, Lund
- Profession: Architect and university teacher
- Academic Tenure: Lund University of Technology, 1964-1987
- Notable Book: Farväl till functionalism (1980)
- Burial Site: Skogskyrkogården, Stockholm
- Spouse: Anne Asplund (born 1937)
Questions readers ask
What major architectural term did Hans Asplund coin?
He coined the term neo-brutalism in 1950 to describe the Villa Göth in Uppsala.
Where is Hans Asplund buried?
He is buried at Skogskyrkogården in Stockholm.
