In April 1977, Bernard Huet – then editor in chief of L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui – looks into the notion of realism in architecture with a tribune he calls Formalism – Realism, published in issue n°190.

According to the author, the question of “ realism” in architecture only becomes historically important in 1917, with the Russian Revolution and the intellectuals’ involvment in the debate concerning the new revolutionary art.

As defined in “ The Little Dictionary of Aesthetics” (Moscow, 1965) : “ The essence of socialist realism art is to reflect reality caught in its revolutionary unfolding, in the most truthful and historically concrete manner. The artist is expected to accomplish a defined goal… the shaping of a new man in whom harmoniously co-exist ideological wealth, spiritual beauty and physical perfection.” 

 Attempting to deconstruct the different accusations of “ formalism” brought against this realist style, Huet invokes Brecht as well as W. Benjamin to resituate formalism as a political – and not architectural – issue. Indeed, he states that “ It is now clearly established that an architect’s “job” is to design shapes to fit man’s needs in the most effective way; “ formalism” thus cannot be pinned down at this level.” 

To read the full article, click on the cover below.