When you think of the most beautiful architecture in the world, you might immediately think of the Baroque buildings in Rome, the Taj Mahal or the Palace of Versailles. The ornate design and extravagant attention to detail will take your breath away. While creating masterpieces such as these buildings would certainly be a challenge today, contemporary architects seem to have given up completely.
Twitter account last week cultural mentor continued ranting about the problems of modern architecture. From a lack of beauty to an emphasis solely on cost-effectiveness, they’ve broken down which is why modern structures leave a lot to be desired. Below you can read the full The Cultural Tutor thread, as well as some of the responses received, and decide for yourself what you think of contemporary architecture. Then if you’re looking for another KristenBellTattoos.com the architecture piece fails, we have the perfect list for you right here.
Last week, The Cultural Tutor detailed on Twitter everything that is wrong with modern architecture.
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
They noted that their criticism is not about unique modern buildings, because at least they make a bold choice.
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Their real problem lies in the total lack of beauty in many contemporary spaces.
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
They went on to mention that these structures have become so ugly because economic efficiency is now the most important factor for city planners.
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
Image credits: cultural mentor
So when did architecture become so barren? Did we all wake up one day and all of a sudden all the offices and schools were filled with white ceiling tiles and painfully bright fluorescent lights? Some of the replies to The Cultural Tutor’s Twitter rants mention that people just don’t appreciate beauty the way they used to nowadays, but I think we’re just used to being surrounded by ugly structures. I think that if we were offered to replace all trash cans and street lights with more aesthetic options, most of us would jump at the opportunity. Especially in places like our office buildings, where many of us spend forty hours a week, it would be nice to see some pretty art or a bold light fixture rather than a sea of ​​fluorescent lights and beige walls.
Image credits: cultural mentor
In fact, a beautiful office can even increase productivity and improve our well-being. Having access to natural light and the opportunity to see paintings on the walls at work makes us more comfortable, less stressed and, in turn, more efficient. Even displaying some plants in an office space can make a big difference because Harvard University paper found that employees working in green offices had twice the cognitive ability of others working in more traditional spaces. So if you’re working in a heartbreaking beige booth, try adding fresh flowers, artwork, or succulents to spice up the space a bit.
Image credits: cultural mentor
Just because white ceiling tiles and gray carpets have become the norm doesn’t mean we should embrace them forever. The cultural mentor pointed out some of the ugly features of modern cities like garbage cans and street lights that most of us don’t even notice as they have faded into the background of what we see every day, but now I can’t help but be disappointed that our urban planners and designers have given us the bare minimum. We’d love to hear your thoughts on modern architecture in the comments below, and if you know of any examples of particularly pleasing contemporary spaces, feel free to share them with your fellow pandas.
Twitter users reacted with general disillusionment with modern architecture and their own theories as to how we got to this point.
Image credits: Abu Shisha
Image credits: CatEmperor
Image credits: garden
Image credits: Mannifresh2099
Image credits: Wikipedia
Image credits: RidetMortem
Image credits: Wiltango
Image credits: rzeta0
Image credits: bulletin
Image credits: Miketskanlon
Image credits: real joseph
Image credits: Rkurek1
Image credits: grumble grumble
Image credits: Hippomenes53
Image credits: 1stefan
Image credits: old building
Image credits: amitagarba
Image credits: RB3475