Intro

If you have ever wondered if we can still build the beautiful buildings and neighborhoods you see in historical city centers, you are not alone. Many start to long for these types of environments, especially when they're driving through endless car-oriented suburbs or facing the bland, generic architecture of many of today's cities.

What you might have seen on a holiday in Florence or Amsterdam or in some older parts of Boston looks much more enjoyable and beautiful. Maybe, you think, we could build like that again, but can we? And, perhaps more importantly, should we? The types of architecture and urbanism I'm talking about are called traditional architecture and traditional urbanism. But, what is that, and why is it even relevant in our modern society?

In this video, I'll give a fresh perspective on what tradition really is when talking about architecture and urbanism. We'll continue with a story of what happened when the world turned to a new way of building called modernism, and what problems came up as a result of that.

Finally, I'll shine a light on the main question of this video:
Can we still build like we used to, and, should we?

Because our cities today face many crises: of sustainability, of livability and health, and, of course, of beauty and meaning. If we want to create more beautiful, livable cities, we need to do things differently. And for that, we better use all the tools we have at our disposal.

So, without further ado, let's discover if building like we used to can help solve these challenges.

What Is Traditional Architecture & Urbanism

As I told in the intro, the type of architecture we see in historical cities can be defined as traditional architecture. These buildings are often lined up side-by-side in streets, often in medium to high-density urban environments.

This urban fabric can be called traditional urban fabric, and a practice of creating these environments can be called traditional urbanism.

But tradition, you might think, isn't that old-fashioned, like folk dance, traditional clothing, and outdated customs? Isn't tradition doing things like they have always been done, making it an enemy to progress?

Well, no, there is much more to it than you'd think.

There is a reason why we categorize these buildings and areas as traditional, and that has everything to do with how modernism changed the way we built in the course of the 20th century.

But before I tell more about that, we need to see what tradition really is, and perhaps we'll discover it is different than you imagined.

Traditional Building: What Is It?

To explain this, let's imagine two tribes.

One lives in a temperate climate near a river and a forest, and one lives in an arid area.

The tribe living in the temperate climate builds using wood they find in the forest, sand and clay from the river, and straw from the riverbanks. Their roofs are steep against the rain, and their windows are bigger to let more light in. But a tribe in the arid area builds differently because they have to deal with the scorching hot sun. They paint their houses white, have flat roofs—because it almost never rains—and have small windows to keep the heat out.

Everything these tribes do is for a reason. They figure out what works and keep those solutions, and whatever doesn't work, they stop doing. After all, they don't have endless resources.

This is basically how building traditions work. They're not about some nostalgic attachment to the past, but they are processes of using proven techniques, materials, and ideas, while also testing out and implementing new ones.

All of this is continually adapted to local climates, materials, and cultural practices. Imagine this process occurring on a worldwide scale for thousands of years, resulting in a tapestry of different building traditions that have ingeniously adapted to various environments.

People across the globe have discovered efficient ways to build, keep warm in winter, stay cool in summer, and have refined these solutions to make them beautiful as well.

The Dutch architect Mieke Bosse of Scala Architects summarizes this beautifully:
"Tradition is the sum of successful innovations."

What Are Common Design Principles Across Various Building Traditions?

1. Context-sensitive: They adapt to their surroundings and climate.
2. Human proportions: They consider scale for comfort and harmony.
3. Local materials: These reduce environmental impact.
4. Craftsmanship: Skills passed down generations bring beauty and quality.
5. Aesthetic principles: Symmetry, proportions, subdivision, and ornamentation create balance and beauty.

The Rise of Modernism

In the early 20th century, the world was going through a rapid transition. The industrial revolution had already transformed society. And now, even more radical new technologies, like the car, were introduced.

A World War was fought, and abstract art transformed the world of creativity.

All these influences gave rise to modernism in architecture: a school that embraced new materials like reinforced concrete, glass, and steel, rejecting ornamentation and traditional styles.

Architects like Le Corbusier and those at the Bauhaus School sought purity, rationality, and innovation. They branded traditional styles as outdated, demanding their replacement.

The Problem with Modernist Architecture and Urbanism

Modernism replaced centuries of refined practices with untested ideas. While some buildings succeeded, many were uninspiring, even depressing. Urban planning separated living, work, and leisure, creating car-dependent, lifeless spaces.

Humans are not robots. Serendipity, community, and beauty suffered under modernist ideals.

The Alternative: New Traditional Architecture & Urbanism

The alternative is building with principles rooted in tradition but adapted to modern needs. This approach embraces:

• Dense, mixed-use neighborhoods.
• Walkable, cycle-friendly cities.
• Local identity and cultural context.

Examples like Poundbury, Cayalá, and Le Plessis-Robinson show it’s possible. But reviving craftsmanship and changing perceptions are essential to bring back timeless beauty and function.

Conclusion

To address today's crises in sustainability, livability, and meaning, we must embrace proven traditions alongside modern innovation. The buffet of historical knowledge invites us to create cities that inspire joy, warmth, and connection.

Let's not reject these treasures. Instead, let's rediscover their value to build a better future.

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