Do you struggle to understand the latest trends in contemporary architecture? Don't worry; few can navigate the landscape of buildings with glossy finishes or envelopes that appear to be in ruins. Moreover, it is difficult to grasp why buildings designed by renowned architects no longer reflect traditional standards of good composition or the Vitruvian triad: firmness, commodity, and delight. In fact, these buildings are often clad in gold leaf, incorporate gargantuan images, are covered in vegetation, or appear to hover above the ground.
However, by examining this abundance of signs—often superficial, seemingly nonsensical, sometimes chaotic, and at other times laconic textures—we can find the key to understanding how our way of life is changing and attempt to grasp where we are and where we are headed.
