A1 Level – Elementary
1. Do you like old buildings?
2. What is a big block of concrete?
3. Do you like simple shapes?
4. What is a grey color?
5. Do you think tall buildings are scary?
6. What is a famous city hall?
7. Do you like smooth walls?
8. What is a strong material?
9. Do you think big buildings are cold?
10. What is a clean line?
11. Do you like modern art?
12. What is a strong feeling?
13. Do you think all old buildings should be kept?
14. What are three materials used in buildings?
15. Do you think Brutalism is ugly?
A2 Level – Pre-Intermediate
1. What is the difference between Brutalist and modern architecture?
2. Why did architects use concrete so much in Brutalist buildings?
3. What are the good things and bad things about very large, simple buildings?
4. How can a Brutalist building be made to look friendlier?
5. Should all historical buildings be protected from being torn down?
6. Why is the history of Brutalism tied to government housing?
7. Do you think Brutalist buildings look old and dirty easily?
8. What is the purpose of showing the building’s structure clearly?
9. How does the size of a Brutalist building affect the surrounding area?
10. What is the difference between a rough concrete surface and a painted wall?
11. Do you think Brutalism is a sign of a powerful government?
12. What are the problems when Brutalist buildings are not well maintained?
13. When is the best time to appreciate Brutalist architecture (day or night)?
14. What are two cities famous for Brutalist buildings?
15. How does Brutalist architecture affect the mood of a city?
B1 Level – Intermediate
1. What are the rules for politely discussing architecture with someone who strongly disagrees with your taste?
2. How does the weather affect the long-term appearance of concrete buildings?
3. Should the government provide funds specifically to restore and clean old Brutalist structures?
4. What is the difference between Brutalist architecture and Communist-era architecture?
5. Do you believe that Brutalism was meant to be democratic and equal?
6. What are the challenges of using Brutalist buildings for modern, light offices?
7. How does the focus on strong geometric shapes affect the feeling of openness?
8. What is the idea of “Le Corbusier” and his influence on Brutalism?
9. Is it fair or unfair when some people demand that all Brutalist buildings be destroyed?
10. How does a lack of windows affect the people who live or work inside?
11. What are the steps for properly documenting and classifying a historical building?
12. What is the value of keeping buildings that are controversial and ugly?
13. Should public media highlight the artistic merit of Brutalist architecture?
14. What are the reasons why some people feel an emotional connection to Brutalist structures?
15. How does the political context of the 1950s and 60s influence Brutalism?
B2 Level – Upper-Intermediate
1. What are the social pressures to conform to popular taste in architecture?
2. What are the moral problems when large Brutalist housing projects fail socially?
3. How does constant media showing of only the worst examples of Brutalism affect public opinion?
4. Should city councils be legally required to consult the public before approving major demolition?
5. Analyze the psychological effect of living in a dense, monolithic (single, large block) environment.
6. Who is responsible for promoting better maintenance and preservation of these structures?
7. What is your view on the practice of painting over the original raw concrete?
8. Evaluate the role of private property developers in tearing down Brutalist structures for new, profitable buildings.
9. How does the concept of “architectural honesty” apply to Brutalism?
10. Discuss the concept of “retro-futurism” in the context of Brutalist design.
11. What are the problems with having very high energy consumption in many older concrete buildings?
12. What are the legal differences between a landmarked building and a generally protected historical structure?
13. Do you agree that the purpose of Brutalism was mainly to provide functional, cheap, mass housing?
14. What steps should be taken to ensure that historical preservation funds are used fairly across all architectural styles?
15. How does the current popularity of Brutalism on social media challenge previous negative views?
Check “Brutalist Architecture” lesson plan for C1 students.
C1 Level – Advanced
1. Is it fair that Brutalist buildings often become associated with high crime rates or poverty?
2. What is the right way to think about an architect’s moral duty to design buildings that enhance the residents’ well-being?
3. How do the platform’s algorithms influence the type of architectural taste that becomes globally popular?
4. When should the government consider mandatory environmental audits before demolishing large concrete structures?
5. What are the moral questions when we talk about tearing down controversial but historically significant buildings?
6. How does the focus on quick renovation affect the long-term, necessary investment in preserving original design integrity?
7. Discuss the impact of major historical shifts (e.g., fall of Communism) on the fate of Brutalist architecture.
8. How should leaders use urban renewal projects to balance modern needs with historical architectural preservation?
9. What is the idea of “embodied energy” (energy used to construct) and its role in protecting concrete buildings?
10. What are the long-term effects on society when the collective visual memory is constantly erased by demolition?
11. What are the difficulties when courts try to decide if a building is structurally unsound or just visually unpopular?
12. How does the search for total aesthetic pleasure conflict with the need for high-density, low-cost housing?
13. Do you agree that the most important thing is the preservation of all unique architectural experiments?
14. What are the simple moral rules a person should follow when advocating for the demolition of a building that others love?
15. Should the government set a legal minimum for the amount of public debate required before approving the destruction of a major public building?
C2 Level – Proficiency
1. What is the real difference between a person’s aesthetic judgment of Brutalism and the style’s social and political intent?
2. Debate the idea: Should we completely ban the use of exposed, unfinished concrete in all new public architecture?
3. How does the concept of “beauty” change when it is defined by utility and raw material, not decoration?
4. What laws or rules are needed to control how private developers influence city planning boards?
5. How do historical views of monumentality and power affect modern public perception of massive concrete buildings?
6. How can communities adapt large, single-use Brutalist structures for a flexible, modern society?
7. Argue the point that humans should stop all attempts to preserve or demolish Brutalism and allow natural decay to occur.
8. What protection should laws give to architects whose original designs are vandalized or poorly altered?
9. How can we stop the problem of using the argument of “historical context” to excuse poor living conditions in Brutalist housing?
10. What did old thinkers say about public architecture, democracy, and the use of enduring materials that is still important today?
11. What will happen to the need for human architects if AI can perfectly design optimal, functional housing blocks?
12. How do people use the idea of “modernizing” to avoid discussing the financial profit from demolition?
13. How does the experience of a major restoration project improve a person’s understanding of engineering limitations?
14. What is the power of a collective movement to demand that architects prioritize sustainability over aesthetic dogma?
15. If scientists could create a perfect, low-cost, self-cleaning, and beautiful building material, how would that fundamentally change architectural style?
