Mimetic architecture, sometimes known as "novelty" or "programmatic" architecture, was popularized in the United States throughout the first part of the twentieth century. It is distinguished by unconventional architectural designs that mirror the purpose or function of the structure or the product with which it is related. These designs are often based on modern technologies or materials which may include concrete, glass, steel, and wood. Mimicry can be used to describe similar but not identical design elements between two different objects or systems. The similarity may be due to construction techniques, functions, or both. In architecture, this concept was introduced by Le Corbusier in 1923 when he wrote: "An house should be like a woman—soft and full of curves!" Today, "mimetic" houses continue to appear on the market, usually designed by emerging architects who use features found in real estate advertisements as inspiration for their own work. The term "mimetic architecture" was first used by Peter Cook in his 1939 book The Art of Building In. There, he described this type of building as one that produces "the impression of being built according to the latest ideas in architecture rather than actually being constructed in such a way." In addition to Cook, other authors have also used the term "mimetic architecture".