Buildings have personalities. The can be welcoming or standoffish, humble or self-aggrandizing, one of many other human mannerisms.

As a kid, I remember noticing that some people work hard at looking their best, rather being their best. A past co-worker was quoted as saying “If it looks good, it is good” in reference to architecture. Both of these stand in my memory as points of self-definition by disagreement.

Our values tend toward honesty of expression in architecture; our design typically leans toward architecture that doesn’t show off. If it’s not a million-dollar house, it should not try to be a million dollar house. Instead, it should be a house that serves its users well, looks good, and fits. That’s why I was happy to find this slide show by Witold Rybczynski. Check it out. It speaks our language.