Frances to listers... This raises a formal point about which approach might be generally better in architectural design: high complexity and decor, or high simplicity and order. If higher complexity now seems preferred over higher simplicity, as prevailed in the recent past early last century, then there may some sound psychical reasons for this choice. Experts in say the cognitive sciences however would likely be best to comment on this. It would be my guess that architects do call upon such experts.
Chris wrote... Not that I'm beginning to write a philosophy of architecture, but one thing I noticed this weekend while touring the new Modern Wing at the Art Institute: arches are comforting - and the absence of them feels a bit severe. Perhaps it's the circularity of them -- so their absence might be ameliorated by the roundness of a dome or column. Or, maybe any relief from the orthogonal would help, like a roof that is slanted instead of flat. But without any roundness or angularity at all, a tall building seems determined to point relentlessly toward an unforgiving heaven - or a financial statement's bottom line.
