Buildings are important, not because they provide shelter, rather they create atmosphere, ever walked down a road and been impressed by the neighbourhood, but troubled that it doesn't settle you, this happens to me all the time.I visit towns and look at houses, trying to understand how they fit in with the people and the general feel of the town. Often I cant match the two, beautiful houses, no soul, or awful houses but wonderful town with inspiring streets.
Graaff Reinet, one of my favourite South African towns, spectacular wide streets lined with thorn and olive trees, generally really ugly houses, designed really poorly, makes for unhappy people.
Stellenbosch, has beautiful streets with houses that match the setting, some are big and some are small, but it doesn't really matter, you see the house, garden and street as one, even the big 4x4 seems to fit. This makes for happy, healthy people.
The number of people walking in a neighbourhood tells you how healthy it is, where building and the environment don't match, you wont see people walking, they don't want to look at what they have done, they cant see it in their own home, but put them all together and its too much, they stay indoors at all cost.
Thoughtful buildings that celebrate all aspects of their purpose are what brings people out onto the streets. I always walk down the avenues in Stellenbosch on my way to River Manor for my morning coffee, why, because the buildings inspire me, they make me feel good. I don't like them all, but I appreciate their position, what they do and how they do it, for me its a win win.
It gives me hope that we can express our individuality in the homes we build, but one persons choices don't keep others off the streets as a result.
Whenever I have friends to stay in Stellenbosch I walk them through the town, I don't tell them why, we just walk and I can see its good for them, they always come back, not to see me but for the joy of looking at beautiful buildings in spectacular streets of Stellenbosch.