Why does architecture matter? What differentiates 'architecture' from mere 'building'? In this engaging, original work, Max Jacobson, one of the authors of the landmark design book A Pattern Language, and Shelley Brock explore these and many other questions as they present a compelling case for the importance of architecture in our day-to-day lives. The book begins with a discussion of the many ways architecture influences our lives from our activities as young children to our everyday interests and interactions as adults. Chapter 2 explores what differentiates 'architecture' from 'building', focusing not only on the 'great' buildings of the world but also on the whole range of architectural works from indigenous structures to contemporary buildings. The core of the book is an exploration of the role of 'durability', 'utility', and 'beauty' in architecture. These three concepts (originally coined by Vitruvius during the Roman empire as Firmitas, Utilitas, and Venustas) remain at the heart of what architecture strives for and are as relevant today as they were over 2,000 years ago.
