Form Over Function Quotes

I object to the hegemony of form in contemporary architecture. We have very advanced technological tools, but ultimately, we create buildings exactly like we used to before: We send the drawings to an engineer and let him struggle with figuring out how to build it.

I think a beautiful product that doesn't work very well is ugly.

Building a mechanical device for its appearance is like putting lace on a bowling ball.

Architecture concerns itself only with those characters of an edifice which are above and beyond its common use.

We often get blinded by the forms in which content is produced, rather than the job that the content does.

Better too much form than too little.

There is nothing truly beautiful but that which can never be of any use whatsoever; everything useful is ugly, for it is the expression of some need, and man's needs are ignoble and disgusting like his own poor and infirm nature. The most useful place in a house is the water-closet.

Rule of criticism: only attend to the shape, and the purpose will manifest itself.