The Value of Architecture

Sadly, architecture is grossly undervalued in our society today.  This stems from a misunderstanding about what architecture really is.  It is seen as a luxury; as a profession that emphasizes aesthetics and disregards pragmatics.  Good architecture, however, masterfully balances the artistic and scientific elements of a building's design.  It handles the technical, economic and aesthetic aspects of a project in such a skillful manner that the user's or visitor's experience moves to the foreground and becomes the focus.  Architecture not only supports the users' activities within it, but it strives to improve the quality of their lives.  Architecture is not only important, it's indispensable.