About
HEARTBRUT
We take a fresh look at brutalism and reinterpret its raw and real vibes for the here and now. Plain and simple. One post, one reel, one ride and one map at a time.
There’s a brutally beautiful world waiting. Let’s explore it together.
Karin / HEAD of HEARTBRUT
ABOUT US & OUR STORY
OUR STORY
HEARTBRUT was founded in 2019 by writer and photographer Karin Bürki. Her mission: win hearts and minds for Switzerland’s concrete icons by making it easy and fun for everyone to rediscover them. Online and in print.
Karin started out with a series of postcards featuring brutalist beauties from London and Zurich. Our first (if somewhat unexpected) hit. In 2020, Carte Brute was born. The idea: unite Switzerland’s super-diverse concrete beauties on a poster-sized, visually stunning map.
In 2022, HEARTBRUT began offering tours together with partners. In 2023 our Instagram account with +10K followers was hacked. Our new account is fully focused on Reels.
For 2025 we have exciting offers, partnerships and publications in the pipeline.
ABOUT KARIN BÜRKI / HEAD OF HEARTBRUT
Born and bred in Zurich, Karin spent her formative years in London. After graduating in Fine Art from Saint Martins College of Art & Design, the writer & photographer made her name with the photo blog PLAYLUST – a pun on Wanderlust and the pseudonym Play Hunter.
Karin’s signature razor-sharp style and refusal to choose between art, photography and media opened up new and singular playgrounds, ranging from the photography book “Now & Wow – A Style Hunter’s Book of Photographs”, a visiting lectureship at Zurich University of the Arts to various newspaper columns, exhibitions and business partnerships. Karin loves a crisp morning river swim in the Limmat.
TEAM & PARTNERSHIPS
Full disclosure: HEARTBRUT is mainly a one-woman show 💪🏻 Karin is good at images, texts, videos, social media and finances. The rest is done by apps, automation and AI. For special tasks, we consult with experts.
Rebecca De Bautista is responsible for the visual concept and production of our Carte Brute maps. You can find her work here
For our Walks and Rides, we are currently teaming up with the following partners: VN RESIDENCY, OPEN HOUSE ZÜRICH, OPEN HOUSE BASEL
Milestones
PUBLICATIONS
Carte Brute Alpin, 2023
Carte Brute Basel, 2022
Carte Brute Zürich, 2021
Carte Brute Schweiz, 2020
Brutalist Beauties Postcards, 2018 –
SHOWS & PRESENTATIONS
Carte Brute Alpin Launch Presentation, OKRO Gallery, Chur, 2023
“Gem or Eyesore?”, part of exhibition, Swiss Heritage Centre, Zurich, 2022-2024
Beton Blutt (Naked Concrete), Print Presentation, Print Matters, Zurich, 2019-2020
Heartbrut, Launching Exhibition, Kosmos, Zurich, 2019
AWARDS & ART GRANTS
Carte Brute edition included in Swiss National Library, 2024
Art Grant, Canton of Graubünden, 2023
Research Grant, Canton of Thurgau, 2021
Art Grant, City of St. Gallen, 2020
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
RIDES
Public and private guided tours in Zurich and Basel since 2022
Rides added in 2024
