The Soul-Crushing and Oppressive Effect of Modern Architecture

by Norman Fulkerson December 17, 2024 https://www.tfp.org/the-soul-crushing-and-oppressive-effect-of-modern-architecture/?PKG=TFPE3502

The celebrated nineteenth-century English architect C. Welby Pugin is known for designing over 100 stunningly beautiful Gothic churches across the British Isles. His success and the popularity he garnered were due to a simple philosophy.

Pugin was a devout Catholic and understood that man is a composite being of both body and soul. Buildings, therefore, should not only satisfy man’s material but also his spiritual side. In other words, they should be useful and beautiful. This concept could aptly be defined by the word beautility.

Orlando Public Library

This concept is sorely lacking in modern architectural designs like the one shown here. This crude concrete box defies description. What is it? If not for the title stenciled into the unfinished concrete, we might mistake it for the county jail rather than Orlando, Florida’s public library.

It will come as no surprise to the reader that John M. Johansen, the person responsible for this architectural absurdity, comes from the Brutalist school of architecture. This minimalist style focused exclusively on the functional aspect of architecture. It commonly features exposed or unpainted concrete or brick like that seen here.

Orlando is the fourth-largest city in Florida, and its public library is the biggest one in the state. One would think that its architect would have pity on the passers-by and create something pleasing to the eye.

This structure, however, is both an aggression to the senses and an assault on the intellect. While it may be useful to keep the visitors dry and cool during hot Florida summers, there is nothing to feed the souls of patrons. It may be useful, but the complete lack of beauty is an implicit denial of the soul of man and his innate need for spiritual nourishment.

We can only truly appreciate how bad this Orlando oddity is when we contrast it with a building found in the sleepy town of Howie in the Hills, Florida, population 1700. While it may be hard to believe, this is its post office. The architectural style is something one would expect to find in Florida, which was originally colonized by the Spanish. The designer had the good sense to provide customers with both historical context and Old World charm that are attractive to the soul. A trip to this post office brings a smile to one’s face and transforms a trivial activity into an uplifting and restful experience. By contrast, a visit to the library shown above –which should be inspiring– is crushing and oppressive.

Such modern structures pollute cities throughout the world and implicitly deny man’s spiritual side. What the world needs are city designers capable of understanding what was obvious to Pugin or even the designer of this small-town Florida post office.

These two buildings illustrate very well two opposing philosophies of life. One implicitly professes that matter is the only thing that is important. Sadly, this materialistic perspective dominates our world and is possibly a factor in the widespread depression that plagues society. Thankfully, the opposing mentality exists and produces what comes naturally to man. There are things of beauty like the Howie post office.