He worked in Helsinki for various architects, including Sigurd Frosterus, Armas Lindgren, Otto-Iivari Meurman and Valter Jung before starting his own office in Turku in 1923.

With their celebration of structure, as well as typography and "street furniture", the influence of Russian Constructivist architecture on both the Stockholm and Turku fairs has also been noted by historians.

His two most famous individual works are the extension to the library of Åbo Akademi University, Turku (1935), designed in a more strict Functionalism style, and the Resurrection Chapel (1941, completed during the wartime) in the Turku cemetery, which represents a mature synthesis of Bryggman's architecture, moving towards organic forms, and creating a dialogue with the surrounding landscape.

In addition to the careful restoration and even reconstruction of some badly ruined parts of the castle, Bryggman inserted various spaces in a distinct modernist style.

In addition to various public buildings (cemeteries, hospitals, a stadium, sports institute, schools, a power station) Bryggman also designed several private villas and summer homes for wealthy clients in the Turku archipelago region.