We spend much of our lives inside buildings, and who we are can vary depending on our environment. Think of the inspiration you feel in a cathedral or art gallery, or the despair you feel in a cramped, windowless, moldy apartment. Yet thinking about architecture and design is often considered to be frivolous. The Architecture of Happiness questions our surroundings, and what role architecture plays in our potential.
I am new to Alain de Botton, but I really enjoy his contemplative style. This short treatise on architecture isn’t so much about function or engineering. Instead, it’s a philosophical musing on beauty. The writing is conversational, articulate yet accessible, with thoughtful prose. The tone is cerebral but not quite pretentious.
So what is a beautiful building? How does this idea change across cultures or time? How is it that a building can make us feel one way or another? How can concrete be cold and crude in one building yet elegant and interesting in another? Botton discusses many different architectural styles, their history, and is particularly critical of modernism.
Botton ultimately wants us to do better with our new modern houses. As our population grows and we must tear down green spaces to make way for new houses, don’t we owe nature and ourselves to at least build buildings that make us happy?
If I were to wish for one thing in this book, it would be a discussion on class and mobility. I think most people care about their environments but don’t have the social mobility to change them. We’d all love big windows overlooking a field of wildflowers, Botton.
Recommended for anyone interested in design or aesthetics. You don’t have to be particularly knowledgeable in architecture to enjoy this book — in fact, I’d especially recommend for the layperson. Even if you don’t agree with Botton’s opinions, you’ll look at art and buildings differently after reading The Architecture of Happiness.