Minnesota Brutalism
I had the pleasure of taking a short trip to Minneapolis in the early fall, and somehow invited myself on another group’s quick hour long drive north of the city to see the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University.
Their shared campuses are a treasure trove of modern architecture, driven by collegiate and Abbey growth in the mid-20th century. Marcel Breuer’s Abbey church was a true surprise - a Brutalist wonder that balanced striking, folding board formed concrete with soaring, light-soaked interiors. There are few parallel or perpendicular walls in plan, elevation, and section; forms twist and turn and splay out, creating intimate spaces that open into the main church. The concrete is a grey palate, rich with texture. Light is manipulated and celebrated here in color and stained glass, or framing views of adjacent cloistered gardens.
The nearby Alcuin Library, also a Breuer building, was perhaps more of a surprise than the church, with its thick board formed fingers of concrete gracefully fanning out to form show-stopping columns and stairs.
The whole visit was a delight, albeit abbreviated due to half of our party’s dinner reservations. Minneapolis has vibrant architecture and urban areas, and I would like to return to more fully explore the city with more time. I would certainly return to the colleges, and will make sure to also visit the St. John’s Pottery.
Note - This was the first series of photographs that were fully edited on my phone using Adobe Lightroom. I am very curious to see how the images translate on a computer screen. It was also the first post composed entirely on my phone through an app. It was a weird experience to reflect about architecture and space and materials, and translate that into writing with my thumbs on my phone. I’m also curious to see how many times I revisit and revise my text, as the process felt so quick and informal.
