Verdict: Four stars

Brutal Glasgow offers an original and layered exploration of some of the city’s most overlooked and criticised buildings.

The exhibition delves into the history of eight Glasgow buildings constructed in the architectural style of brutalism, telling the stories of their construction, use and meaning in the community.

A wide variety of voices provide a refreshing and accessible history of the city’s architecture.

It brings people a history they may have never thought about before, in the process reminding them to have an appreciation for local history and the joy that can come from it. 

My understanding of brutalism was vague going into the exhibition and was almost equally so when I walked out, however this was not an exercise in academic understanding. 

(Image: Newsquest)

The introductory placard sets the scene well giving a definition of brutalism and the controversy that comes with it:

“A stark style of functionalist architecture, especially of the 1950s and 1960s characterised by the use of steel and concrete in massive blocks.” 

It adds: “For many people Brutalism is a byword for ugly, or worse still concrete. For others, it’s iconic. For many Glaswegians, witnesses to the rapid rise and fall of tower blocks across the city, Brutalism means failure.”

This is quickly put in the context of Glasgow as illustrations of eight brutalist buildings are collated on the wall opposite. The now-demolished Gallowgate Towers, Our Lady and St Francis school, Met Tower, BOAC, Savoy Centre, Bourdon, Pontecorvo and Anniesland Court all feature. 

Nebo Peklo’s illustrations of these eight buildings act as your visual guide throughout the exhibition. They are simplistic at a glance but with a closer look, the fantastic colouring does a great job of reflecting the look and feel of these buildings, managing to capture how fruitfully dull they are. 

These designs should be appreciated in and of themselves, but it is the accompanying commentary from architects, academics, writers and those who lived and worked in these buildings that brings it all to life. 

The interactive audio commentary was brought together by Rachel Loughran, it brilliantly weaves together each building’s place in Glasgow’s history and in the lives and memories of Glaswegians.

The personal reflections of those who attended Our Lady and St Francis Catholic Girl’s School as well as those who frequented The Savoy Centre provide great insight into how these buildings shaped people's lives. 

A history of planning, housing and modernisation in the 1950s and 60s is expertly brought together for an exploration of the construction of the Gallowgate Towers. 

The inclusion of an excerpt from Chris Leslie’s evocative short film, Lights Out, focusing on the Gallowgate Towers and Glasgow’s changing architecture is a definite highlight.

Explorations of the futuristic BOAC building, and the unmistakeable Met Tower are also not to be missed.

The exhibition is saturated in local history that has largely remained untold and unheard, it does a fantastic job of delivering said history in a digestible, accessible and interesting way. 

Its interactive structure allows the exhibition to be enjoyed according to people’s interests. You can simply take in the illustrations on your own, explore the stories behind the buildings most interesting to you or delve into the entire experience, I would recommend the latter. 

Admission to the exhibition is free, it is open Saturday and Sunday this weekend and on selected days until 27 October.