Memorable quotes on architecture and planning

AKE no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans — aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die; but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever- growing insistence. Remember that our sons, daughters and grandchildren are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty.” — Daniel H. Burnham

This is one of my favorite quotes, and I regularly share it as a call to action in my closing remarks during my speaking engagements. I hope these poignant words from Daniel Burnham will always encourage us architects, designers, planners and engineers to always dream big, set the bar high, be guided by ethics and our core values, and create plans that will positively impact the environment and uplift the users and beneficiaries.

Inspiration from prominent figures in architecture moved me to write “Cities are for people” and “Development is not worthy of the name unless it is spread evenly like butter on a piece of bread” in my term paper when I was still studying. There are many other quotable quotes on architecture and planning that inspired me over the years — as a student, a young architect and throughout my 48- year career as an architect and 46-year career as an urban planner. I wish to share these compelling descriptions about the nobility of architecture and planning, especially to fellow architects and planners and those hoping to be professionals of the built environment.

“Architecture is a small piece of this human equation, but for those of us who practice it, we believe in its potential to make a difference, to enlighten and to enrich the human experience, to penetrate the barriers of misunderstanding and provide a beautiful context for life’s drama.” — Frank Gehry

“The good building is not one that hurts the landscape, but one which makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built.” — Frank Lloyd Wright

“Rather than overpowering nature or limiting human impact, good design will affirm the possibility of developing healthy and creatively interactive relationships between human settlements and the natural world.” — William McDonough and Michael Braungart from the book Building Like Trees, Cities Like Forests.

“I feel, however, that we as architects have a special duty and mission…[to contribute] to the sociocultural development of architecture and urban planning.” — Kenzo Tange

“We must learn to understand humanity better so that we can create an environment that is more beneficial to people, more rewarding and more pleasant to experience.” — John Portman

“Nothing in the world is more simple and more cheap than making cities that provide better for people.” — Jan Gehl

“Architecture was my way of expressing my ideals: to be simple, to create a world equal to everyone, to look at people with optimism, that everyone has a gift. I don’t want anything but general happiness.” — Oscar Niemeyer

“The architect who combines in his being the power of vision, of imagination, of intellect, of sympathy with human needs and power to interpret them in a language vernacular and true is he who shall create poems in stone.” — Louis Sullivan

“Architecture has to be greater than just architecture. It has to address social values, as well as technical and aesthetic values. On top of that, the one true gift that an architect has is his or her imagination. We take something ordinary and elevate it to something extraordinary.” — Samuel Mockbee.

“Architecture is human endeavor inspired by the nature all around us. We must transform nature; fuse science, art and technology into a sublime statement of human dignity.” – Paulo Mendes da Rocha

“Design shapes the way we live. So, it ought to serve everyone.” — Eva Maddox

“Good architects have always invented within the rules, respected the character of place and built for the ages with natural materials.” – David Brussat

“Architects have a vital role as advocates of sustainable solutions.” — Norman Foster

“Architecture is a science arising out of many other sciences and adorned with much and varied learning; by the help of which a judgment is formed of those works which are result of other arts.” — Marcus Pollo

“The aesthetic of architecture has to be rooted in a broader idea about human activities like walking, relaxing, and communicating. Architecture thinks about how these activities can be given added value.” — Thom Mayne

“First and foremost, a great street should help make community. A great street should be a most desirable place to be, to spend time, to live, to play, to work. Streets are settings for activities that bring people together.” — Allan Jacobs

“Green is the prime color of the world and that from which its loveliness arises.” — Pedro Calderón de la Barca

“Here, then, is what I wanted to tell you of my architecture. I created it with courage and idealism, but also with an awareness of the fact that what is important is life, friends and attempting to make this unjust world a better place in which to live.” — Oscar Niemeyer

“Life is rich, always changing, always challenging, and we architects have the task of transmitting into wood, concrete, glass and steel, of transforming human aspirations into habitable and meaningful space.” — Arthur Erickson

“My passion and great enjoyment for architecture, and the reason the older I get the more I enjoy it, is because I believe we — architects — can affect the quality of life of the people.” — Richard Rogers

“An architect is the drawer of dreams.” — Grace McGarvie

“Architecture cannot be understood without some knowledge of the society it serves.” — Sir Hugh Maxwell

“Design our world so that we have positive social and environmental side effects.” — Bjarke Ingels

“It is not impossible to create generous architecture even in situations with minimum resources and numerous constraints. What one needs is a largeness of vision and a desire to create something that people can touch, feel and in which they can participate.” — Balkrishna Doshi