In collaboration with the publisher gestalten, we have recently published our first book: The ArchDaily Guide to Good Architecture. This milestone was an opportunity to look back at the more than 40,000 projects curated over the last 15 years, drawing out their contributions to answer an ambitious question: What is good architecture?
We wanted you—our dear readers—to also confront this question through an open call for opinions. After reading through a vast number of responses from construction professionals, students, and architecture enthusiasts alike, it was surprising to find a widespread consensus: above all, good architecture does not forget why and for whom it exists. Read some of the key responses below.
I believe good architecture is that which does not forget why and for whom it exists; good architecture is that which stands firm in being a necessity rather than a merely commercial product, designing with the aim of dignifying the quality of life regardless of social status, since we all deserve function and aesthetics with the resources at hand. This can only be achieved by re-humanizing our work for everyone, because architecture is not a matter of luxury and speed, but also of patience and intelligence. Knowing how to design makes the difference between creating thoughtful, analytical architecture for a select few, or merely "pretty" architecture. - Eva Mondragon, Mexican architect.
