Aesthetics

Today’s market suggests that, for many of us, the perceived prestige of enor­mity takes precedence over design and even structural integrity when choos – sing a home. It seems that even a shoddy status symbol, with its expansive vinyl walls and snap-on plastic window grills, can somehow connote distinc­tion. The finer qualities of design have become as difficult to market as they are to achieve, so they are being replaced by highly-prized square footage.

Just as something is typically appre­ciated as good or beautiful when it is deemed necessary, it will be con­demned as ugly or evil when it is considered pointless. Under the right circumstances, murder becomes hero­ism and trash turns into treasure. The distinction between valuables and gar­bage is based primarily on our notions of utility. What two people see as beau­tiful will vary as much as what they consider to be useful.

Accordingly, the selfish squandering of valuable resources and the emission of toxins without any worthwhile pur­pose are always corrupt and unsightly. Beauty may be in the eye of the be­holder, but an oversized house is an ugliness we all have to contend with.