If a design can stand the test of time, is it better than a new design that rejects old appearances because better materials and processes have been discovered or invented. We know that it requires resources to meet human needs, but we also value caring for resources. We have value conflicts between the economic and status seeking motivations for consumption and the ethics of conservation. How can we show care about resources as not something we use up but something we borrow from future users. Question FOUR - What is proper role of single use and multiple use space in our constructed environment.
Good architecture provides spaces where strangers interact to become friends.
We can design for social interaction, for quiet contemplation, or for noisy sensory stimulation during mealtime. When good design is applied to eating we change mealtime from the animal level of biological feeding to the esthetic experience of dining and conversation. Mealtime changes from stuffing the face to a holistic fulfilling experience including the social, sensory, and aesthetic experiences unique to the best our cultures have to offer. Think about a diner party with half dozen or so close friends eating in a fine dining room. Compare it with a typical school or even many family mealtime routines.