#026 Architecture around is largely...boring
#026 Architecture around is largely...boring
All the buildings look the same
Hey there!
All the buildings look the same.
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Whatever happened to great architecture
I recently read this article that argued how recent architecture has largely been monotonous.
“You can see the ideologies of “form follows function,” “less is more,” and “ornament as crime” in the buildings. You can see the disappearance of the kind of elaborate, nature-inspired detailing that was present in the greatest buildings across many centuries and cultures. There are no “places for the birds to live,” which is how artist Molly Crabapple describes the nooks and crannies of traditional buildings.”
We are in a phase where glass and concrete are the primary materials to build with. We have optimized efficiency at the cost of beauty and aesthetics. The scale of the building is apparently ‘human’ but it’s nowhere even close. There are some buildings that are trying to break away from this and stand out, but largely when we look at the urban fabric of any major dwelling, one can only sigh on the same rectangular tall blocks that are neither ‘human’ nor ‘inviting/welcoming’. At the most, the block may be a twisted rectangle.
I studied architecture and I can largely admit that I too romanticized brutalism, minimalism in a building, and for me ‘color’ or ‘ornament’ was a crime. We were encouraged in our curriculum to take inspiration from nature, or rather make nature an integral part of our architecture. This is why I love architecture as a practice, unfortunately not as a profession. When we’re stepping out into the real world, architecture’s largely driven by number’s, lobbying, where every square meter counts and needs to rake in maximum profits. This is where some of these values are thrown out the window.
This might just be the case from where I come. Maybe it’s not as bad as I think it is. This inference is largely based on personal experience. Opinions that contradict this are very much welcome!
Good reads
When is the revolution in architecture coming? — We need to build places we can’t stop looking at. It will involve lots of plants.
The twisted psychology of browser tabs — It’s not just you. Browser tabs are scientifically terrible
Next best behaviors framework — Our approach to ‘next best behaviors’ allows us to identify the behaviors we want to encourage or consolidate for a given segment.
The laws of simplicity applied to VR — Tips to defy UX complexity in the metaverse.
Building games
Even though I have parted ways from architecture, it still continues to be an itch that I try to scratch in various ways. One of them is games. Here are some of my favorites that somehow have architecture and planning as an underlying theme.
Build a town with a few taps. Where you tap is how the building will take shape, and eventually that expands into a town. This game’s a delight to play! Don’t miss it.
SimCity Buildit - iOS | Android
City planning at scale, where one has to try to keep its citizens happy by providing a mix of necessary services, places for recreation, commercial districts, and so on. Happier the citizens, the larger the tax, and the larger the tax, the more you can expand and build the city.
Monument Valley - iOS | Android
Most of you’ve heard of this one. There’s nothing that requires planning and strategy. It’s just a great visual treat, with surreal architecture that defies principles.
Connect different stations of the city with tracks to help passengers reach their desired destination. Great design and beautiful interactions make this one an all-time favorite.
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