ABOUT
HEARTBRUT explores the sweet spot between brutalism, art and experience, offering new visual formats, publications, special editions, expert insight and curated walks & rides. We believe in together is better. Our fresh take and explorative formats reach a broad international community. We are regularly featured in the media. HEARTBRUT was founded in 2019 by writer and photographer Karin Bürki.
Let's make brutalism unhateable
We want to make it easy to love and explore our brutalist heritage. One post, one edition and one guided tour at a time. Our first product was a postcard set featuring brutalist beauties from London and Zurich. As HEARTBRUT continues to grow and evolve, we remain committed to reinterpreting brutalism’s raw and real vibes for the here and now.
It was love at first sight. My heart just melted away in the summer sun. It was the way La Tulipe proudly and unapologetically embraced both its hard and its soft sides, playfully defying the macho vibes often associated with brutalism. For me, the core message of La Tulipe is that you have more fun when you dance away from the norm.
Karin Bürki, Head of HEARTBRUT, in The Guardian
Karin Bürki is a professional writer and photographer. She has headed HEARTBRUT since 2019. Born and bred in Zurich, Karin spent her formative years in London. After graduating in Fine Art from Saint Martins College of Art & Design, she made her name with the photo blog PLAYLUST – a pun on Wanderlust and her pseudonym Play Hunter.
Karin’s signature razor-sharp style and refusal to choose between art, photography, writing and business opened up new and exciting playgrounds. They range from the book “Now & Wow – A Style Hunter’s Book of Photographs”, columns in leading media outlets to exhibitions and a visiting lectureship at Zurich University of the Arts. Other destinations include various business partnerships and investments in the art and finance sector. Apart from brutalism, Karin is passionately into women’s football and loves a crisp morning swim in Lake Zurich.
HEARTBRUT KEY DATA
Publications
Carte Brute Alpin, 2023
Carte Brute Basel, 2022
Carte Brute Zürich, 2021
Carte Brute Schweiz, 2020
Brutalist Beauties Postcards, 2018 –
Acquisitions, Art Grants, Awards
Carte Brute edition included in the City of Geneva’s Department of Architectural and Historical Heritage, 2025
Carte Brute edition included in Swiss National Library, 2024
Art Grant, Canton of Graubünden, 2023
Carte Brute Alpine included in the Cantonal Library of Graubünden, 2023
Carte Brute Zurich included in the Architectural History Archive of the City of Zurich, 2022
Research Grant, Canton of Thurgau, 2021
Carte Brute Alpine included in the Cantonal Library of Thurgau, 2023
Art Grant, City of St. Gallen, 2020
Shows & Presentations
Creative Marketplace, Fair, Architecture Festival Zürich, 2025
Carte Brute Alpin Launch Presentation, OKRO Gallery, Chur, 2023
“Gem or Eyesore?”, part of exhibition, Swiss Heritage Centre, Zurich, 2022-24
Beton Blutt (Naked Concrete), Print Presentation, Print Matters, Zurich, 2019-20
Heartbrut, Launching Exhibition, Kosmos, Zurich, 2019
Talks
SRF, Expert opinion, Schweiz Aktuell, 2024
ART TV, Interview & feature, 2024
ARCHITEKTUR FILM TAGE ZÜRICH, Intro to Swiss Brutalism, 2023
SRF KULTUR, Radio feature & Interview, 2022
Walks & Rides
Public and private guided tours in Zurich and Basel since 2022
Bike rides added in 2024
Partnerships
Rebecca De Bautista is responsible for the visual concept and production of our Carte Brute maps. You can find her work here
For our public walks and rides, we are currently teaming up with the following partners: VN Residency, Open House Zürich, Open House Basel