Kurt C. Hunker, FAIA
Professor of Architecture in the Graduate Program
NewSchool of Architecture and Design
Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in architectural circles in something termed “Brutalism.” As Professor Hunker states, “some observers claim that it is still being realized in built form, decades after its heyday.” Professor Hunker’s talk will focus on the genesis of this 20th-century phenomenon called “Brutalism” or, sometimes, “The New Brutalism.” He will also review some of its significant structures and their designers, explore the reasons for its existence, and offer thoughts on the validity of applying the label — in any form — to contemporary architecture.
Kurt Hunker is Professor of Architecture in the Graduate Program at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design. Professor Hunker has been associated with the school since 1989 and served as the Graduate Program Chair in Architecture for many years. He more recently served as the Acting Dean of the School of Architecture and Construction Management.
Hunker was recognized as NewSchool Teacher of the Year on two occasions and received the Architectural Education Award from the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). In 2013 he was elevated to Fellowship in the AIA for his contributions to architectural education. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture, and has developed and taught courses on numerous subjects including design studio, thesis research, history, theory, criticism, and internship.
Consistent with his long-standing belief in the critical and beneficial linkage of academia and praxis, Hunker maintains a consulting practice in architecture. He has won multiple design awards from the AIA and other organizations including a “Project of the Year – Public” award from the San Diego Chapter of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). His designs have been published in such periodicals as Architecture and Texas Architect and have been honored by award committees in California, Ohio, and Texas.
Kurt Hunker has been a guest lecturer for local and regional organizations, including Friends of San Diego Architecture, and has presented papers at international conferences in Los Angeles, London, Vienna, Moscow, and Jyvaskyla, Finland, among others. Topics have ranged from the literature of criticism, to the phenomenon of “spectacle” in contemporary high-rise building, to Alvar Aalto’s work. He received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from The Ohio State University and a Master of Architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University.