Vitruvius the Roman said it, Palladio the Florentine said it, Frank Lloyd Wright the American Architect said it yet still the timeless way of building (Christopher Alexander said it too) eludes most of our buildings. Beauty is needed because no one will love and care for an ugly building, functional buildings are needed so that energy and resources aren’t wasted and durable structures are required to resist the forces of nature. It’s easy to wander away from these principles, especially if you are thinking short-term. Newer homes don’t age well; after 20 years they need lots of work. Better perhaps to build the timeless way….
This temple in the Nezu neighborhood of Tokyo demonstrates how something as mundane as roof drainage can become a thing of beauty, function, and durability
