So many things in today’s world are dogshit covered in a pretty wrapper and everyone eats it up. Meanwhile things that actually work well and last get ignored because they’re not pretty.
I’m not saying things can’t be pretty but you should never put form over function.
I STRONGLY believe in the whole, “form follows function”, idea. Something that fulfills is intended purpose well, repeatedly, efficency, etc. is beautiful to me
Well, the idea of using unfinished concrete (the origin of the movement’s name) was something of a modern/internationalist reaction to the earlier excesses of nouveau and deco really. It wasn’t that concrete is a superior material for structure, the ancients knew that. A better current example (that argues the opposite to your point unfortunately!) of form following function is cheap [edit: cheap isn’t what I meant, more ‘the cheapest available using today’s sophisticated engineering’, which obviously isn’t cheap but real estate doesn’t have that reputation anyway] curtain walls in high rises. Pretty insipid but people love it; there’s no accounting for taste, especially among those who have no appreciation for the finer things.
No - curtain walls are where there’s no wall, just a window attached to the frame as in most modern office buildings. Apologies meant to respond to @HelixDab2 below who mentioned béton brut :)
I generally agree with this, but I would like to remind everyone not to take this generalization and run too far in the other direction. A video game that is a perfect simulation of something but has a bad art style will be less enjoyable than a game with a great art style, even if the art detracts from the perfect simulation somewhat.
Preferring looks over functionality.
So many things in today’s world are dogshit covered in a pretty wrapper and everyone eats it up. Meanwhile things that actually work well and last get ignored because they’re not pretty.
I’m not saying things can’t be pretty but you should never put form over function.
I STRONGLY believe in the whole, “form follows function”, idea. Something that fulfills is intended purpose well, repeatedly, efficency, etc. is beautiful to me
…And yet, people tend to despise brutalist architecture.
Well, the idea of using unfinished concrete (the origin of the movement’s name) was something of a modern/internationalist reaction to the earlier excesses of nouveau and deco really. It wasn’t that concrete is a superior material for structure, the ancients knew that. A better current example (that argues the opposite to your point unfortunately!) of form following function is cheap [edit: cheap isn’t what I meant, more ‘the cheapest available using today’s sophisticated engineering’, which obviously isn’t cheap but real estate doesn’t have that reputation anyway] curtain walls in high rises. Pretty insipid but people love it; there’s no accounting for taste, especially among those who have no appreciation for the finer things.
Like, cloth curtains to divide interior spaces, instead of actual walls??
No - curtain walls are where there’s no wall, just a window attached to the frame as in most modern office buildings. Apologies meant to respond to @HelixDab2 below who mentioned béton brut :)
No worries at all, happy to learn something new
True, just don’t word it like that when you’re telling your partner why you love them.
I generally agree with this, but I would like to remind everyone not to take this generalization and run too far in the other direction. A video game that is a perfect simulation of something but has a bad art style will be less enjoyable than a game with a great art style, even if the art detracts from the perfect simulation somewhat.