From projecting social status to expressing beliefs and simply feeling good, aesthetic elements have been part and parcel of the designed spaces that we move around in.In accounting terms, buildings are referred to as capital or fixed assets, the value of which is discounted over a long period of time.
From an investor developer’s point of view, the objective is to make products appealing to the market given the prevalent socially-constructed marketability criteria. From an owner’s perspective, the objectives could be personal satisfaction, social acceptance, or appreciation of value, among others.
Timeless designs are based on classical elements and principles of composition. Aesthetic principles of balance, symmetry, rhythm, hierarchy, and color may be referenced for distinguishing designs that will stand the test of time. Others may opt for the so-called out-of-the-box designs, radical forms enabled by new materials and technology, and innovative concepts based on new lifestyles.
Waste generated with frequent remodeling has consequent environmental problems that need to be addressed through recycling strategies. The use of internationally accepted but unsustainable materials also adversely impacts the users and the urban environment. Picking up foreign building design elements that do not respond to the local context can make for non-functional and difficult-to-maintain spaces.