It is clear that you build these essays with the same care as the architects of beauty you write about, creating monuments to beauty. Interestingly, this essay made me think not of buildings but of humanity, and how what we build within our societies and ancestries will also affect what sustains and what crumbles. That if we build our societies intending them to be strong and beautiful, we will sustain the best of humanity.
I’ve never studied architecture, but I have admired it. Thank you for a fascinating article about the ingenuity of Roman architecture and how it informs architects to this day. You are so right. Modern architecture has largely abandoned beauty for profit, as in planned obsolescence. Many buildings, from individual homes to capitol buildings and museums, still stand because permanence and beauty were the goals, and they were seen as worth preserving. I hope we get back to that somehow.
As a musician long ago I played in the orchestra of the Arena di Verona, and I cannot begin to describe the awe of operas and concerts in that amazing setting!
Disposable. It’s what I consider today’s architecture and manufacturing builds are. There are somethings on the tech side that I do understand, simply because it’s ever evolving. Yesterday’s components cannot handle tomorrow’s hardware. But architecture, that’s different. Square blocks do not inspire respect or creativity. The Boston City Hall is such a build. As you say, sadly, it’s all about the continuity of profits.
I resonate very much with what you've written here. I have lived abroad in various countries for over 27 years. When I graduated and landed a job on Wall Street, I left Rome and thought I would never return. Cannot remember who said this, but travelling is not just (or, so much) a discovery of places, as much as a discovery of oneself. That is one thing I think I discovered about living and working in the US. Travelling across the States was always an incredible experience, and still is. However, one thing that was a little unsettling was that going from one city to the other was like going through a copy/paste experience. A 'chain-store' experience.
Some years ago, I was asked by an American tourist visiting Rome 'why are there so many old buildings? Why don't they tear them down and build new ones?'. I replied, 'yes, somewhat of a scandal!'.
It is clear that you build these essays with the same care as the architects of beauty you write about, creating monuments to beauty. Interestingly, this essay made me think not of buildings but of humanity, and how what we build within our societies and ancestries will also affect what sustains and what crumbles. That if we build our societies intending them to be strong and beautiful, we will sustain the best of humanity.
Your love of beauty and the eloquence of your descriptions stir my soul. Thank you for this gift.
As always, I gain so much from every one of your posts. Thanks for taking us with you through these amazing journeys, James!
I’ve never studied architecture, but I have admired it. Thank you for a fascinating article about the ingenuity of Roman architecture and how it informs architects to this day. You are so right. Modern architecture has largely abandoned beauty for profit, as in planned obsolescence. Many buildings, from individual homes to capitol buildings and museums, still stand because permanence and beauty were the goals, and they were seen as worth preserving. I hope we get back to that somehow.
Thank you, James — you’ve filled my heart with joy, yet again, today! 🙏
As a musician long ago I played in the orchestra of the Arena di Verona, and I cannot begin to describe the awe of operas and concerts in that amazing setting!
Disposable. It’s what I consider today’s architecture and manufacturing builds are. There are somethings on the tech side that I do understand, simply because it’s ever evolving. Yesterday’s components cannot handle tomorrow’s hardware. But architecture, that’s different. Square blocks do not inspire respect or creativity. The Boston City Hall is such a build. As you say, sadly, it’s all about the continuity of profits.
❤️
I resonate very much with what you've written here. I have lived abroad in various countries for over 27 years. When I graduated and landed a job on Wall Street, I left Rome and thought I would never return. Cannot remember who said this, but travelling is not just (or, so much) a discovery of places, as much as a discovery of oneself. That is one thing I think I discovered about living and working in the US. Travelling across the States was always an incredible experience, and still is. However, one thing that was a little unsettling was that going from one city to the other was like going through a copy/paste experience. A 'chain-store' experience.
Some years ago, I was asked by an American tourist visiting Rome 'why are there so many old buildings? Why don't they tear them down and build new ones?'. I replied, 'yes, somewhat of a scandal!'.
But, admittedly, I'm biased.
😂❤️