Buildings that speak to us

Crystal introduced me to a book recently, and though I am barely a third of the way through, it is already revolutionizing how I understand architecture. I often hear architects or designers say they like or don't like certain buildings, and I've often wanted to know why. Even for myself, there are buildings I do or don't like, but I don't always know why. The below quotes are just one theory on beauty, but I find them to be very helpful so far.

"To describe a building as beautiful therefore suggests more than a mere aesthetic fondness; it implies an attraction to the particular way of life this structure is promoting through its roof, door handles, window frames, staircase and furnishings. A feeling of beauty is a sign that we have come upon a material articulation of certain of our ideas of a good life. Similarly, buildings will strike us as offensive not because they violate a...visual preference but because they conflict with our understanding of the rightful sense of existence..." (72)

"The notion of buildings that speak helps us to place at the very centre of our architectural conundrums the question of the values we want to live by - rather than merely of how we want things to look." (73)

The Architecture of Happiness - Alain de Botton (2006 McClelland & Stewart Ltd.; Toronto)

I often differ in my preference of buildings with the architects and designers at work, and now I am starting to understand why. My natural tendency is too long for a former way of life that I have never known, which might explain why I prefer classical designs, one of which is Gothic, which I've looked at in my two previous posts.

Which of these buildings do you prefer? (click on the image to see a larger version of it)









Grayson Manor - Moose Jaw, SK or Villa Savoye - Poissy, France