Common Architecture

What is the common value of architecture? Written by a practicing architect, this book illustrates how architects should view and critically re-examine the design process in everyday practice. What is the common value of architecture? The first description that comes to mind is: something normal, ordinary, or rational. These keywords are pointing toward the opposite of newness. A brave jump of logic would make out that architecture does not need to call for newness. On the contrary, one must admit that other fields of design and art in fact need to be attracted to newness and the endeavours themselves are meaningful. But architecture has always been unique because it does not exclusively belong to either art or technology, but requires enormous amounts of coordination with various consultants to make one building work in addition to what we call “design.” This unique character of architecture demands commonness rather than newness.