Page 88 - Jan 2013

88 | Business World Magazine | January 2013
architecture or sustainable building, which
is very much in demand.”
So, a question arises as to what exactly
did the company have to alter? How did it
change its practices in order to facilitate in-
creased demand? The answer, surprisingly, is
nothing.
“We haven’t changed anything,” af-
firms Smith. “Modern architecture has al-
ways been about sustainability.”
Therein lies the fundamental perspec-
tive which has taken society some time to
grasp, but Smith may assert true understand-
ing is still elusive. Many continue to associ-
ate modernity with an architectural style as
opposed to what it actually represents. Form
is said to follow function, and in this regard,
quality architecture assesses how a finished
structure will function in its respective site,
in its respective environment taking into ac-
count, the views, the thermal variances, the
natural formations and a plethora of other
practical concerns not the least of which is
how the client actually lives. Different cli-
mates, different environments, different
needs ultimately effect the design, and in-
herent efficiency, of the intended structure.
“Modern architecture has always responded