The architecture at UEA is undoubtedly controversial. What UEA student hasn’t sat in the square on a sunny May afternoon, snakebite in hand, and thought, ‘You know what? They’ve got it wrong. UEA was the best-looking uni on my UCAS form and I would hate to be in some beautiful period dining hall’ (before immediately changing their mind the moment it rains). Still, regardless of our fleeting opinions, there is a level of fondness that students carry for our concrete home, even if a knowledge of its forgotten history has become rarer.  

Although you may have heard the term ‘Brutalist’ banded around UEA quite liberally in your time here; what does it truly mean? Is it anything more than a word to describe a building that seems abrasive, grey and, for want of a better name, ‘brutal’?  

If anything, Brutalism lies more in philosophy than design. The simplicity in the smooth clear lines, the symmetry, the use of once hidden materials such as concrete, marked a distinctly socialist hope for a fairer future. It was utilitarian, cheap, anti-tradition and to many, it was beautiful.  

Brutalism, at its core, was an emotional and physical reaction to the tragedy of the Second World War. With the destruction of over a million homes in the Blitz, as well as the increase in demand following the subsequent ‘Baby Boom’ of the 50s, affordable, practical housing was needed, and it was needed urgently. However, the war left not only a material wound upon the country but a mental one. This forced many to turn their backs on the intricacies of designs in the past, which had come to represent nothing but the hubris of a world that had led them into chaos. 

One prominent architect of this period was Sir Denys Lasden, an enigmatic Londoner who came to be celebrated as one of the greatest architects of the modern age. His masterpieces spanned from the Royal National Theatre, the Royal College of Physicians and in the early 60s, the University of East Anglia. The UEA was a pivotal project for Lasden as he was given the freedom to lead what would become one of his most extensive designs. His goal? To create a ‘five-minute university;’ a campus in which accommodation and study buildings would only be five minutes away (and so succeeding Leed’s 10-minute university in 1960!). One of the more distinctive ways in which this was executed was through the construction of raised walkways, intended to separate pedestrians and transport in the hopes of quicker circulation around campus. As expected, concrete was to play a significant role in both this and the wider design, with Lasden declaring, 

“Concrete is a very intractable material, but it can be a beautiful material if it is used in the way its own nature intends it to be used… You need to work to a certain scale… It is not a cosy little material.” 

It is safe to say that UEA encapsulates everything that was brilliant about Lasden’s work, as well as Brutalism on a broader scale. This legacy can be seen today, with Historic England naming the UEA as Britain’s ‘first and most successful expression of a university as a small city rather than a dispersed campus.’ This ‘city’ feel is achieved not solely by the Brutalist influence, but by Lasden’s specific take on the movement, with his allowing the buildings to step back and become a canvas for the natural world and the students and staff who use them.  

But how does campus hold up today? Does UEA still appreciate Lasden’s designs? This September I spoke with current students and was able to gather some insights into how our Brutalist architecture is viewed in a time that has long forgotten its original meaning.  

‘When it was built, it was modern. You know, you look at universities like Oxford and Cambridge and they have this really old architecture and it’s easy to compare it to that. But you have to remember how different it was at the time. We’re used to ‘softer’ buildings now, more neutral looking.’ – Undergraduate Student 

‘Personally, I really like it. I do know that people do find it ugly though! I mean I get where that comes from, but I just think it’s really unique for a university — it makes it who it is. Overall, I think it shows that there’s always been a lot of creativity at UEA and that’s reflected in the buildings.’ -Master’s Student 

‘I think people do look at campus and think that it’s very daunting. I’ve heard people say that before.’ -Undergraduate Student 

‘I really like it now. When I first looked it was actually one of the main things that put me off, but I’ve always loved all the green spaces. After a few months of being here, I really came around to it. I like how the buildings look different in each season as well, just because of the different shadows and colours and the plants that surround it.’  

-Undergraduate Student 

Of course, any praise and introspection in relation with these buildings can’t help but be tinged with sadness. The discovery of RAAC within both Norfolk and Suffolk Terrace (the Ziggurats) in 2023 cast doubt onto their continuation as an iconic and much-loved landmark on campus. Although their status as Grade II* listed buildings and pillars of the Brutalist movement does protect their demolition at this point in time, their now empty interiors are a far cry from Lasden’s vision for his bustling university of the future. 

Still, as campus begins to become busy once again, filled with people after what has been a very long, very quiet summer, it is undoubtable that the remaining buildings start to come to life as well. The Hive has become reinvigorated as the social hub of campus, the library stands tall as the much-needed sanctuary of quiet and the Square is flooded with students meeting friends after the summer. Whether their design is to your taste or not, looking around this Welcome Week, it’s hard to deny that they still fit the Brutalist goal of practicality. But perhaps they remain still more relevant that? In the 60s, UEA was built as a dedication to fairness, honesty, a lack of pretentiousness and a modern outlook. It seems fitting that these remain the very soul of UEA today.  

Photo credit: Maggie Read