At first look, traditional brutalist architecture doesn't feel like an easy fit with plants and nature. But this paradoxical relationship is part of the appeal, hence the buzz around the term eco-brutalism at the moment. Drape concrete in lush green foliage and it takes on new qualities, softening the harshness of angular buildings as an answer to the search for more sustainable design principles.
It's no surprise that with its organic feel and emphasis on planting, eco-brutalism is one of the key garden trends for 2025. Planted courtyards, rooftop gardens, green walls, and other urban greening projects are all helping to blur the lines between the built world and nature.
