Many think of cemeteries as a scary place, a haunted graveyard of evil spirits. But for others, remembrance is not only profound, but an act of resolution and peace, even celebration. Hollywood Forever cemetery, founded 1899, serves not just as a burial ground, but an iconic cultural landmark—from art exhibits to film festivals, from author readings to a park to simply stroll its sublime surroundings.
Most people want a home of a traditional style. Though many magazines show off glossy contemporary homes, the majority of homeowners choose a classically-themed house. Whether the design style is Spanish Colonial, Cape Cod, Farmhouse, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, or Georgian—all such architectural languages find their roots in classicism, looking backwards to long lost periods of history.
From 2023, many new works of architecture fascinate me. They captivate, enthrall, and entice. What fascinates me varies, from rigorous simplicity to new sculptural forms, from a view of the past to fresh social programs. Here I list only ten wonderful buildings of which there are so many more.
We architects call our industry the “practice of architecture.” This is so, because we are still practicing. It is not called the accomplishments of architecture or the perfection of architecture. It is rare that architects consider themselves accomplished. Even after several decades of professional practice, I am still just practicing.
“Hey Anthony, who is your favorite architect?,” I am often asked.
I might reply, “Can there only be one fave? What is your favorite book or your favorite song?”
For nearly all, there is no one favorite piece of music. For me, there is no one favorite architect. There are several dozen. But here I try, gathering a mere list of ten.
A common misconception is that architecture strives to be beautiful. The famed 1st century Roman architect, Virtruvius, did proclaim that architecture must have venustas—the Latin term for “beauty.” But for every Mozart seeking beauty, there is a Beethoven pursuing other qualities—challenging ones even. Indeed, some works of architecture are odd, strange, and even supernatural—if such a word can be used to describe a building.
