Classical architecture, rooted in ancient Greek and Roman traditions, emphasized ornamentation, symmetry, and proportion for harmony and the continuity of culture. As the Industrial Revolution introduced concrete, glass, and steel, mass production made modern life possible. Those benefits largely prioritised speed over art, slowly changing aesthetic judgment. By the early 20th century, Modernism emerged as a reaction against beauty, with architects advocating for form. In the words of Sir Roger Scruton, “beauty is vanishing from our world because we live as though it did not matter”.

The austerity of Modernism, which is visibly marked by flat roofs, unadorned surfaces, and asymmetrical forms, produces environments that are deeply unwelcoming. Such designs frequently lack a sense of human scale and warmth, contributing to a broader perception of detachment. Movements like Brutalism would later amplify this through raw concrete. Empirical evidence, however, remains consistent: public preference continues to favour traditional architectural forms, while modernist environments are often associated with uniformity and a sense of cultural dissonance.