Beauty is a problem of form, and nothing else. Usefulness is the plain fulfillment of a purpose. A beautiful object can also be useful, and a useful one, beautiful. To combine the beautiful with the useful is the essential task of architecture. However, the creative possibilities of individuals vary. Architectural forms to be valid must not merely be beautiful but timely. When the architect himself fails to understand and to commend the forces with which he must work, he only adds to the sum total of visible disorder. Functionalism is a hollow slogan used to lead the conservative stylist to exploit contemporary techniques. Emotion cannot be imported into an architecture form by imitation of historic ornament or style. It must be felt and lived by the architect; it must govern the choice of materials which influences the rhythm of the overall composition. |
