Architecture

How would you explain the main differences between classical, modern, and postmodern architecture to someone who has never studied the subject? Which architectural style do you feel most drawn to, and what emotions or values does it express for you? How have major historical events (like industrialization or world wars) changed the way buildings are designed and used? Why do you think certain architectural styles are associated with power, wealth, or authority in different societies? What are some examples of architecture in your own city or region that tell a story about its history?

How do traditional building materials like stone, wood, and brick compare to modern materials like steel, glass, and concrete in terms of durability and feel? What does it mean for a building to be environmentally sustainable, and which design choices matter most? How might climate change reshape the materials and methods architects use in the next few decades? In what ways can local materials and building traditions reduce both cost and environmental impact? Can you think of a building you know that feels either wasteful or highly sustainable? What makes you see it that way?

How do architects balance beauty, cost, and practicality when designing a building for real people to use? What does the phrase 'form follows function' mean, and when do you think designers should challenge it? How does the layout of a school, hospital, or office subtly influence the behavior and mood of the people inside it? What design features make a building feel welcoming, confusing, or intimidating to visitors? When, if ever, is it worth sacrificing comfort or accessibility in order to achieve a striking visual design?

What roles do public buildings like libraries, courts, and city halls play in shaping a community’s shared identity? How can the design of parks, plazas, and streets encourage people from different backgrounds to mix and interact? What examples can you think of where public architecture has become a symbol of a city or nation, for better or worse? How should architects and planners involve local communities in decisions about new public spaces? What are the risks when public spaces are designed more for tourism and image than for everyday residents?

How have ideas about what a 'home' should look like changed over the last hundred years? What features of a home matter most for human well-being: size, light, privacy, shared spaces, or something else? How can good design help address housing shortages, overcrowding, or homelessness in growing cities? What are some trade-offs between high-rise apartments, suburban houses, and shared or co-housing models? How much should housing design reflect cultural traditions versus global, standardized styles?

What visual and structural features make a building feel 'sacred' or spiritually significant to people? How do religious structures like temples, churches, and mosques express beliefs through space, light, and decoration? In what ways can sacred architecture bring together people from different faiths—or deepen divisions between them? Should old religious buildings be preserved at all costs, even if communities change or shrink? Can secular buildings such as museums or memorials take on a role similar to sacred spaces in modern life?