Brutalism is related to and similar to (and often confused with) the modernist, minimalist, and internationalist styles of architecture. All of these styles make heavy use of repetition and regularity in their features, but Brutalist designs also often incorporate striking, blatant irregularities as well.
Another common theme in Brutalist designs is the exposition of the building's functions—ranging from their structure and services to their human use—in the exterior of the building. In other words, the Brutalist style is "the celebration of concrete." In the Boston City Hall (illustration left), designed in 1962, strikingly different and projected portions of the building indicate the special nature of the rooms behind those walls, such as the mayor's office or the city council chambers. From another perspective of this theme, the design of the Hunstanton School included placing the facility's water tank, normally a hidden service feature, in a prominently placed and visible tower.
