--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I needed to understand the spirit of a…" description: "\"I needed to understand the spirit of a tall building, what makes it important, what should I try to achieve in a tall building. It became a very intere..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/cesar-pelli-22141_achieve_i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-t_2976585.png" --- # I needed to understand the spirit of a tall building, what… ![“I needed to understand the spirit of a tall building, what makes it important, what should I try to achieve in a tall building. It became a very interesting problem, something that I like very much.” quote by Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/cesar-pelli-22141_achieve_i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-t_2976585.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/cesar-pelli-22141_achieve_i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-t_2976585.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/cesar-pelli-22141_achieve_i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-t_2976585.png) > “I needed to understand the spirit of a tall building, what makes it important, what should I try to achieve in a tall building. It became a very interesting problem, something that I like very much.” [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a skyscraper’s spirit guides its design and purpose. **In simple terms:** He seeks the essence of tall buildings to design them. Key Takeaway Seek purpose in design. Themes architecture inspiration purpose Mood thoughtful curious Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - city planning - building projects - educational lectures Key Concepts design philosophy urban impact engineering Questions to Reflect On - What inspires your work? - How do you define a building’s spirit? A Different Perspective Interpretation varies across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Achieve Tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-tall-4609303/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Building Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-interesting-453812/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirit Tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-tall-4609304/) [Tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall/) [Tall Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tall-building-1009784/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) ## Related quotes > [I promise I will never even THINK about going up in a tall building again. Oh, God. Please don't let me die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcclane/i-promise-i-will-never-even-think-about-going-up-in-a-tall-building/) [John Mcclane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcclane/) > [There can be little question that the tall building presents one of the most difficult challenges to the architect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/there-can-be-little-question-that-the-tall-building-presents-one-of/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [I pay a lot of attention to how things are done and the whole activity of building something is interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-judd/i-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-how-things-are-done-and-the-whole/) [Donald Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-judd/) > [A building is a very interesting frame. You always get a sort of sample of different people inside a building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/a-building-is-a-very-interesting-frame-you-always-get-a-sort-of/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [Downtown Toronto is a very good place to talk about the neutrality of modernist architecture. I'm sure this kind of box-building was interesting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-sagmeister/downtown-toronto-is-a-very-good-place-to-talk-about-the-neutrality-of/) [Stefan Sagmeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-sagmeister/) > [“Our apartment was at the top of a tall building opposite Teşvikiye Mosque, and our bedroom windows looked out on many other families’ bedrooms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/our-apartment-was-at-the-top-of-a-tall-building-opposite-te-vikiye/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [A man attains greatness by his merits, not simply by occupying an exalted seat. Can we call a crow an eagle (garuda) simply because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-man-attains-greatness-by-his-merits-not-simply-by-occupying-an/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The skyscraper and the twentieth century are synonymous; the tall building is the landmark of our age. ... Shaper of cities and fortunes, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-louise-huxtable/the-skyscraper-and-the-twentieth-century-are-synonymous-the-tall/) [Ada Louise Huxtable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-louise-huxtable/) > [The tall building, concentrating man in one place more densely than ever before, similarly concentrates the dilemma of our public architecture at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/the-tall-building-concentrating-man-in-one-place-more-densely-than/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [What is a church?—Our honest sexton tells, 'Tis a tall building, with a tower and bells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/what-is-a-church-our-honest-sexton-tells-tis-a-tall-building-with-a/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [The chief characteristics of the tall building is that it is lofty. It must be every inch a proud and soaring thing, rising in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sullivan/the-chief-characteristics-of-the-tall-building-is-that-it-is-lofty-it/) [Louis Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sullivan/) > [I am a strong believer that as one moves toward the future, the strongest and clearest way to do it is if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-am-a-strong-believer-that-as-one-moves-toward-the-future-the/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [When you sit down to design something, it can be anything, a car, a toaster, a house, a tall building or a shoe, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinker-hatfield/when-you-sit-down-to-design-something-it-can-be-anything-a-car-a/) [Tinker Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinker-hatfield/) > [I used to be a chemical-engineering student, but I started studying acting, and I went for a cattle call, up against hundreds of people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/i-used-to-be-a-chemical-engineering-student-but-i-started-studying/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [Construction is a matter of optimism; its a matter of facing the future with confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/construction-is-a-matter-of-optimism-its-a-matter-of-facing-the/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) ## More by Cesar Pelli > [Too many architects are just trying to make all of their buildings look like a brand, and that may be good for business, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/too-many-architects-are-just-trying-to-make-all-of-their-buildings/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [When I started designing in school, I discovered that I had a knack for it. I fell completely in love with architecture, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/when-i-started-designing-in-school-i-discovered-that-i-had-a-knack/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [Construction is a matter of optimism; its a matter of facing the future with confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/construction-is-a-matter-of-optimism-its-a-matter-of-facing-the/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [My buildings are like my children, so I cannot have favorites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/my-buildings-are-like-my-children-so-i-cannot-have-favorites/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [I am a strong believer that as one moves toward the future, the strongest and clearest way to do it is if you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-am-a-strong-believer-that-as-one-moves-toward-the-future-the/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [Architecture adds dimensions to my life that would be impossible to acquire if I retired. The beautiful thing about architecture is that every project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/architecture-adds-dimensions-to-my-life-that-would-be-impossible-to/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [I'm particularly interested in the public role that all buildings play. I believe that we architects should try to go beyond our basic obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-m-particularly-interested-in-the-public-role-that-all-buildings/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [The World Trade Center was for me not only out of scale vertically, but it was also out of scale in plan. It occupied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/the-world-trade-center-was-for-me-not-only-out-of-scale-vertically/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [I see my buildings as pieces of cities, and in my designs I try to make them into responsible and contributing citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-see-my-buildings-as-pieces-of-cities-and-in-my-designs-i-try-to/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [I had come from Los Angeles - I had been there a partner of Gruen Associates, a large Los Angeles firm - and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-had-come-from-los-angeles-i-had-been-there-a-partner-of-gruen/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [I'd never known of an architect as a young man. I think there was only one architect in Tucuman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-d-never-known-of-an-architect-as-a-young-man-i-think-there-was-only/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [I'm a bad customer for my own buildings! If I'm choosing an apartment, I choose one about five or six stories high so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-m-a-bad-customer-for-my-own-buildings-if-i-m-choosing-an-apartment/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [The Connecticut Center for Science and Exploration will be a building that will connect the excitement of science to the surrounding streets, river and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/the-connecticut-center-for-science-and-exploration-will-be-a-building/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [I always look forward to the next project. That is one of the wonderful things about architecture - you always can hope for another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-always-look-forward-to-the-next-project-that-is-one-of-the/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) > [When I finished high school, I was 16, and in Argentina you have to choose a career right after high school. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/when-i-finished-high-school-i-was-16-and-in-argentina-you-have-to/) [Cesar Pelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) [Explore all 28 Cesar Pelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) [Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/) [Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/) [Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I needed to understand the spirit of a tall building, what makes it important, what should I try to achieve in a tall building. It became a very interesting problem, something that I like very much.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cesar Pelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-tall-building-what-makes-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achieve" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-tall-building-what-makes-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/cesar-pelli-22141_achieve_i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-t_2976585.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/cesar-pelli-22141_achieve_i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-t_2976585.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/cesar-pelli-22141_achieve_i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-t_2976585.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I needed to understand the spirit of a tall building, what makes it important, what should I try to achieve…” — Cesar Pelli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cesar Pelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-pelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I needed to understand the spirit...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-tall-building-what-makes-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-pelli/i-needed-to-understand-the-spirit-of-a-tall-building-what-makes-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```