[campbellmorgan]

It is easy to agree with the sentiment of this article, but the fundamental premise of this is wrong in modern architecture. That premise is that it is the architect that is in control of the final aesthetic of the building. Architects get work by participating in competitions against other architects for limited budgets. In a few, rare cases (usually public buildings and museums) an extraordinary budget may be approved that goes to funding truly radical buildings that break from the status quo, but in the overwhelming majority of cases architects play a fine line within the following constraints:

1. Planning regulations (in the UK at least, it's very hard to propose buildings that differ significantly from neighbouring buildings)

2. Materials -- building custom window frames / door frames is incredibly expensive. The first thing that tends to get cut as budgets are inevitably squeezed are any custom items

3. Client expectations -- most new large buildings are built with a projection of future occupants. Developers want to be able to make apartments as saleable as possible so usually take the most risk-averse options

While I applaud concepts with more colour, detail and originality, you must also consider where you would like to live. Most people (I think) want to build out their own custom surroundings as their home grows on them. Bland buildings make this easier because it is a blank canvas upon which you can begin to construct your own projection of your ideal home. Being locked inside a giant multicoloured artwork conceived of by somebody else might sound appealing to start off with, but will quickly become an aesthetic prison of somebody else's personality.

[CrazyStat]

> That premise is that it is the architect that is in control of the final aesthetic of the building.

I disagree.

The article frames the question by examining what kind of work architects celebrate and award. It doesn't matter who had the final say in any given design or even all the designs; architects, not client expectations, are responsible for what kind of work gets the Pritzker prize.