HEARTBRUT | About us

À PROPOS

HEARTBRUT explores the sweet spot between brutalism, art and experience, offering new visual formats, expert insight, print editions and curated walks & rides. We believe in together is better.

With our fresh take and explorative formats we reach a broad international community. HEARTBRUT is regularly featured in the media.

Story & Mission

HEARTBRUT was founded in 2019 by author and photographer Karin Bürki. Her mission: take a fresh look. Quit black-and-white thinking, fight stereotypes and focus on what brings us together. Goal: let’s make it easy to love and explore our brutalist heritage. One post, one edition and one guided tour at a time.

What started out with a crazy idea and a postcard set featuring brutalist beauties from London and Zurich has since evolved into a full-time job, media platform, business and ever expanding creative partnerships. As HEARTBRUT continues to grow, we remain committed to reinterpreting brutalism’s raw and real vibes for the here and now.

Karin Bürki Short Bio

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 singular playgrounds. They range from the photography book “Now & Wow – A Style Hunter’s Book of Photographs”, a visiting lectureship at Zurich University of the Arts and columns in national and international media outlets to exhibitions, business partnerships, investments in the art and finance sector and a longstanding commitment to brutalism. Karin loves a crisp morning river swim in the Limmat.

Team & 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 Walks and Rides, we are currently teaming up with the following partners: VN RESIDENCY, OPEN HOUSE ZÜRICH, OPEN HOUSE BASEL

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