--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you have rules to abide by, does…" description: "\"When you have rules to abide by, does that curtail you as a designer, or set you free? People think of classical architecture visually, but I think the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/annabelle-selldorf-26081_architecture_when-you-have-rules-to-abide-by-does-tha_2208643.jpg" --- # When you have rules to abide by, does that curtail you as… ![“When you have rules to abide by, does that curtail you as a designer, or set you free? People think of classical architecture visually, but I think the brilliant part of it is actually spatial.” quote by Annabelle Selldorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/annabelle-selldorf-26081_architecture_when-you-have-rules-to-abide-by-does-tha_2208643.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/annabelle-selldorf-26081_architecture_when-you-have-rules-to-abide-by-does-tha_2208643.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a1/annabelle-selldorf-26081_architecture_when-you-have-rules-to-abide-by-does-tha_2208643.jpg) > “When you have rules to abide by, does that curtail you as a designer, or set you free? People think of classical architecture visually, but I think the brilliant part of it is actually spatial.” [Annabelle Selldorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabelle-selldorf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Design constraints can either limit creativity or inspire innovative spatial solutions. **In simple terms:** Rules can spark creativity. Key Takeaway Embrace constraints as creative prompts. Themes design creativity spatial thinking Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - architectural projects - urban planning - interior design - product design - education Key Concepts architecture design process innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn a rule into a design opportunity? - When do constraints become hindrances? A Different Perspective Constraints may also stifle originality if too rigid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually Spatial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-spatial-4880986/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Architecture Visually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture-visually-4880985/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Classical Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-architecture-1547065/) [Designer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designer/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Set You Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/set-you-free/) [Spatial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spatial/) [Think Classical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-classical-725207/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [ “He \[John Summerson\] wrote that Georgian buildings, in particular, did not rely on an 'irrecoverable sense of craftsmanship for the pleasure they give. Personally… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-tyack/he-john-summerson-wrote-that-georgian-buildings-in-particular-did-not/) [Geoffrey Tyack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-tyack/) > [I don't believe that classical architecture is enough to engage people anymore. They say: 'So what else is new?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/i-don-t-believe-that-classical-architecture-is-enough-to-engage/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [Being a musician, you want to be able to do the hardest stuff there is. People would think it's classical, but in classical, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mcknight/being-a-musician-you-want-to-be-able-to-do-the-hardest-stuff-there-is/) [Brian McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mcknight/) > [I think for a classical musician the goal is the same as an electronic musician. A very good professional classical musician must not think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregor-schwellenbach/i-think-for-a-classical-musician-the-goal-is-the-same-as-an/) [Gregor Schwellenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregor-schwellenbach/) > [I think any classical training in the theatre is of enormous value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivien-leigh/i-think-any-classical-training-in-the-theatre-is-of-enormous-value/) [Vivien Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivien-leigh/) > [And what classical music does best and must always do more, is to show this kind of transformation of moods, to show a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tilson-thomas/and-what-classical-music-does-best-and-must-always-do-more-is-to-show/) [Michael Tilson Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tilson-thomas/) > [I think the classical music is on a dangerous downward slope, because it's not seeking strong enough resonance with its society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-equilbey/i-think-the-classical-music-is-on-a-dangerous-downward-slope-because/) [Laurence Equilbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-equilbey/) > [I think classical dance is not seeing the evolution seen by classical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmapriya-janakiraman/i-think-classical-dance-is-not-seeing-the-evolution-seen-by-classical/) [Padmapriya Janakiraman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmapriya-janakiraman/) > [Generally, we tend to believe that royalty is only for mainstream Hindi commercial cinema music and maybe some popular ghazal singer or pop singer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-akhtar/generally-we-tend-to-believe-that-royalty-is-only-for-mainstream/) [Javed Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-akhtar/) > [I think classical music tuition is, well, was when I was a child, was an abomination. 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They tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/the-ways-in-which-acquired-savants-show-up-are-usually-the-same-ways/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [The ensouled is distinguished from the unsouled by its being alive. Now since being alive is spoken of in many ways, even if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ensouled-is-distinguished-from-the-unsouled-by-its-being-alive/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## More by Annabelle Selldorf > [I'm not so interested in technology for technology's sake. I don't need incredibly sophisticated climate-control systems. 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I seek a certain kind of logic that allows you to move in space and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabelle-selldorf/i-make-spaces-that-are-calm-rather-than-confrontational-i-seek-a/) [Annabelle Selldorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabelle-selldorf/) > [All clients think that they are architects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabelle-selldorf/all-clients-think-that-they-are-architects/) [Annabelle Selldorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabelle-selldorf/) > [Everything is complicated about using concrete - the discipline and dedication necessary to make consistent batches, understanding exactly how the formwork will be laid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabelle-selldorf/everything-is-complicated-about-using-concrete-the-discipline-and/) [Annabelle Selldorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabelle-selldorf/) > [What I do isn't radical. It's just distinct in small ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabelle-selldorf/what-i-do-isn-t-radical-it-s-just-distinct-in-small-ways/) [Annabelle Selldorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabelle-selldorf/) > [There isn't any one material that's mine. It all depends on the context. 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