Modernist Architecture Fits Modern Era
False Assumption: Modernist and brutalist architecture better suits contemporary federal buildings than classical styles.
Written by FARAgent on February 10, 2026
Postwar academic architects glorified modernist and brutalist concrete designs for public buildings. They sold these as forward-looking and appropriate for the modern age. Federal projects embraced brutalism over marble columns and traditional forms.
Ugly concrete structures spread across courthouses and agency headquarters. Public opinion ranked them low. A 2007 survey confirmed dislike for modernism.
Trump's 2025 executive order prefers classical architecture for its proven appeal. Preservationists like Docomomo US call this backward. Growing surveys question modernist dominance, though academic circles defend it as the true 'moment.'
People Involved
- In the debates over federal building designs, Liz Waytkus stood out. As executive director of Docomomo US, she championed modernist preservation. She argued that architecture should reflect its own moment. She criticized the Trump administration for favoring classical styles over forward-looking ones. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
““Architecture should be of its moment,” said Liz Waytkus, the executive director of Docomomo US, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving 20th-century architecture. “It seems the current administration wants to look back and not forward.””— Trump's Architecture Executive Order
Organizations Involved
Docomomo US worked to preserve 20th-century modernist architecture. The nonprofit opposed any shift toward classical styles in federal projects. It pushed for designs that matched contemporary ideals. Meanwhile, the American Institute of Architects ran a survey in 2007. That poll asked the public about favorite buildings. The top 50 leaned heavily toward classical forms, not modernist ones. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“Liz Waytkus, the executive director of Docomomo US, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving 20th-century architecture.”— Trump's Architecture Executive Order
“The best study of what the public likes in architecture is likely the 2007 survey by the American Institute of Architects that asks Americans to rank 248 buildings nominated by architects. Among the great top 50 …”— Trump's Architecture Executive Order
The Foundation
Architects in the postwar years promoted modernist and brutalist styles. They saw these as fitting the modern era. The approach stemmed from a glorification of progress. It appeared innovative at the time. Yet surveys began to show public tastes ran differently. Critics argue this foundation ignored what people actually preferred. Growing questions surround whether modernism truly represented the contemporary moment. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
““Architecture should be of its moment,” said Liz Waytkus, the executive director of Docomomo US”— Trump's Architecture Executive Order
How It Spread
The idea spread through academic circles. Universities obsessed over justifying the postwar turn to modernist and brutalist designs. Professors claimed these styles captured the timeliness of the age. They taught this view to new generations. Media echoed the narrative. Funding followed the trend. Dissenters faced sidelining. In this way, the assumption took hold in architectural education and practice. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“It’s fascinating how obsessed contemporary academic architecture is with justifying the distant past. Academic architects are loath to admit that they screwed up in the postwar era by glorifying bad modernist/brutalist architecture.”— Trump's Architecture Executive Order
Resulting Policies
Federal guidelines once encouraged modernist styles. Brutalism appeared in courthouses and agency headquarters across the country. These policies shaped skylines from the mid-20th century onward. Buildings rose in concrete and stark lines. They aimed to embody modernity. Mounting evidence challenges whether this suited public needs. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“The new guidelines, which the White House has framed as “making federal architecture beautiful again,” also discourage federal construction projects nationwide from choosing modernist styles like Brutalism.”— Trump's Architecture Executive Order
Harm Caused
The push for modernist and brutalist architecture met resistance. Public surveys ranked these styles low. People disliked the results. Classical buildings fared better in polls. Critics argue this led to widespread dissatisfaction. Federal structures became symbols of alienation. The harm showed in everyday complaints and low esteem. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“Academic architects are loath to admit that they screwed up in the postwar era by glorifying bad modernist/brutalist architecture.”— Trump's Architecture Executive Order
Downfall
Doubts grew with the 2007 survey from the American Institute of Architects. It placed classical buildings in the top 50. Modernist ones lagged behind. This exposed a gap in appeal. Then came Trump's executive order in 2025. It favored classical architecture for federal projects. The order cited proven excellence in traditional styles. Critics argue this marked a turning point. The debate remains contested. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“The best study of what the public likes in architecture is likely the 2007 survey by the American Institute of Architects that asks Americans to rank 248 buildings nominated by architects. Among the great top 50 …”— Trump's Architecture Executive Order
““Because of their proven ability to meet these requirements, classical and traditional architecture are preferred modes of architectural design,” the executive order said.”— Trump's Architecture Executive Order
Sources
- [1]