Why can you not separate the function of a building from its aesthetics?

The functional (usefulness) and aesthetic (beauty) qualities of architecture have always been interrelated. Structures are built in accordance with these principles, which represent the outright minimum derivative integral parts without which architecture would not be what it is.

Hailed as a symbol of the green building movement, Thom Mayne, a Los Angeles-based architect, quoted, "The aesthetics and the performance are inseparable."

In The Ten Books of Architecture, the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius stated that a building should meet the obligations of commodity, firmness, and delight. Commodity addresses how a building serves its function and can be made more useful. Firmness refers to a building's ability to withstand natural forces over time. Delight pertains to aesthetics.

The act of creating architecture is indeed a wonderful opportunity to create memorable places. It is more than merely meeting the functional, technical, and financial criteria established at the outset. There is a more nuanced aspect to architecture that deals with aesthetics and symbolism.

In every project, opportunities exist to consider aesthetic issues. Every building emerges from the ground with a particular aesthetic, and that aesthetic evolves throughout the design process. Internal to the design process are countless opportunities to make aesthetic decisions, from the selection of window types to the choice of trim color. External factors can present opportunities as well, from historic preservation requirements to anti-terrorism criteria. - WBDG.org

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