Form follows profit is the aesthetic principle of our times.
Richard RogersRead
Architects design buildings; that's what we do, so we have to go with the flow; and, even though I'm still an old Leftie, global capitalism does have its good side. It's broken down barriers - the Berlin Wall, the Soviet Union - it's raised a lot of people up economically, and for architects, it has meant that we can work around the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the balance architects must maintain between personal beliefs and the benefits of global capitalism.
Richard Rogers highlights the duality of an architect's role within the context of global capitalism. While he identifies as an old Leftist, he acknowledges that global capitalism has led to positive outcomes, such as the dismantling of political barriers and economic upliftment for many. This broader economic framework allows architects to operate internationally, thus enriching their profession and enabling greater collaboration and creativity in design.
Themes
ArchitectureCapitalismDesignGlobalizationCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a presentation on international architectural trends, this quote could highlight the importance of adaptability in a globalized economy.
More from Richard Rogers
All quotes →I love cities, I spend most of my life talking about cities. And the design of cities does have an effect on your life. You're lucky if you can see trees out of your window and you have a square nearby, or a bar, a cornershop, a surgery. Then you're living well.
Richard RogersRead
A greater focus on design in all new homes would make the best use of land, create homes and public spaces, and reinforce the structures of urban life.
Richard RogersRead
My passion and great enjoyment for architecture, and the reason the older I get the more I enjoy it, is because I believe we - architects - can effect the quality of life of the people.
Richard RogersRead
The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved.
Richard RogersRead
When I started out, nearly every architect I knew was working in public practice; that's where the radical thinking was done. But, there's always a danger of looking back as our fathers did and saying, 'Things were better then.'
Richard RogersRead
Similar quotes
I'm particularly interested in the public role that all buildings play. I believe that we architects should try to go beyond our basic obligations to the public, and our opportunities to do so are many.
Cesar PelliRead
All buildings, large or small, public or private, have a public face, a facade; they therefore, without exception, have a positive or negative effect on the quality of the public realm, enriching or impoverishing it in a lasting and radical manner. The architecture of the city and public space is a matter of common concern to the same degree as laws and language—they are the foundation of civility and civilisation.
Leon KrierRead
I realize that having a style would be very beneficial for my practice from a marketing standpoint, but I can't do it. I believe my responsibilities as an architect are to design the most appropriate building for the place. Each place has a distinct culture and function, which for me requires an appropriate answer.
Cesar PelliRead
Modern buildings of our time are so huge that one must group them. Often the space between these buildings is as important as the buildings themselves.
Ludwig Mies Van Der RoheRead
We used to build temples, and museums are about as close as secular society dares to go in facing up to the idea that a good building can change your life (and a bad one ruin it).
Alain De BottonRead
A building should appear to grow easily from its site and be shaped to harmonize with its surroundings if Nature is manifest there.
Frank Lloyd WrightRead