Forbidding facade / cold, cracking, crumbling concrete / grey, grim, glowering.
A hulking edifice built on stilts in the “brutalist” style of architecture stands next to an IKEA location in New Haven, Connecticut. This massive concrete building, designed by noted modernist architect Marcel Breuer, was a neglected, empty eyesore for many years. It has been recently renovated and repurposed as a hotel and conference center.
As you can see, there’s a grim geometry to the building which is somewhat interesting, but a bit drab and difficult to work with photographically. However, after repeat visits, I discovered the building’s secret: it comes to life on any clear afternoon when the sun hits the northwest-facing side. The sunlight creates dark triangles and lines in sharp contrast to the weathered concrete exterior, and the windows reflect the afternoon sunlight onto pavement, people, cars, trucks, and the IKEA next door.
