--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's my goal to make a building as…" description: "\"It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible. Architecture is a very material thing. It takes a lot of resources, so why not eliminate wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/helmut-jahn-15839_able_it-s-my-goal-to-make-a-building-as-immat_1991105.jpg" --- # It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible… ![“It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible. Architecture is a very material thing. It takes a lot of resources, so why not eliminate what you don't need as long as you're able to achieve the same result?” quote by Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/helmut-jahn-15839_able_it-s-my-goal-to-make-a-building-as-immat_1991105.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/helmut-jahn-15839_able_it-s-my-goal-to-make-a-building-as-immat_1991105.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/helmut-jahn-15839_able_it-s-my-goal-to-make-a-building-as-immat_1991105.jpg) > “It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible. Architecture is a very material thing. It takes a lot of resources, so why not eliminate what you don't need as long as you're able to achieve the same result?” [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He aims to reduce unnecessary material use in architecture, focusing on efficiency. **In simple terms:** Design should use only what’s needed. Key Takeaway Eliminate superfluous materials. Themes sustainability design efficiency Mood thoughtful practical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - building projects - budget constraints - material selection - urban planning Key Concepts minimalism resource optimization environmental impact Questions to Reflect On - What can be removed without compromising function? - How does minimalism affect user experience? A Different Perspective Aesthetic appeal may suffer. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Architecture Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture-material-3452756/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Building Immaterial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-immaterial-3452755/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Immaterial Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immaterial-possible-3452757/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Make Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-building-2225607/) [Material things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-things/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Possible Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-architecture-3452758/) [Resources](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resources/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/) ## Related quotes > [Slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/slow-down-and-make-building-relationships-as-important-as-building/) [Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/) > [Almost every time I make a building, some people will condemn it straight to Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-jacobsen/almost-every-time-i-make-a-building-some-people-will-condemn-it/) [Arne Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-jacobsen/) > [If there really is no new way to be found, we are not afraid to stick with the old one that we found previously.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-mies-van-der-rohe/if-there-really-is-no-new-way-to-be-found-we-are-not-afraid-to-stick/) [Ludwig Mies van der Rohe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-mies-van-der-rohe/) > [I would like to make a building as intellectually driven as it is sculptural and as positive as it would be acceptable to hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-would-like-to-make-a-building-as-intellectually-driven-as-it-is/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [It takes a lot of effort to make a building look effortless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-foster/it-takes-a-lot-of-effort-to-make-a-building-look-effortless/) [Norman Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-foster/) > [Education is that base material with the help of which you can make building of your dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/education-is-that-base-material-with-the-help-of-which-you-can-make/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Theres a lot to be said for doing what youre not supposed to do, and the rewards of doing what youre supposed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/theres-a-lot-to-be-said-for-doing-what-youre-not-supposed-to-do-and/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [Purpose is not necessary to make a building beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-johnson/purpose-is-not-necessary-to-make-a-building-beautiful/) [Philip Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-johnson/) > [If I wanted to do clothes or if I wanted to make a building or design a choreography, you are able to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaha-hadid/if-i-wanted-to-do-clothes-or-if-i-wanted-to-make-a-building-or-design/) [Zaha Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaha-hadid/) > [“The poor who commit murder, rape and robbery are not only not starving, they have far more material things than the word ‘poverty’ suggests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-poor-who-commit-murder-rape-and-robbery-are-not-only-not-starving/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [We live in a vastly complex society which has been able to provide us with a multitude of material things, and this is good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euell-gibbons/we-live-in-a-vastly-complex-society-which-has-been-able-to-provide-us/) [Euell Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euell-gibbons/) > [“Cause and effect is as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. Mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/cause-and-effect-is-as-absolute-and-undeviating-in-the-hidden-realm/) [James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/) > [“Don't envy what people have, emulate what they did to have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/don-t-envy-what-people-have-emulate-what-they-did-to-have-it/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/) [T.I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-i/) > [“That which they have need of . . . let it be given them day by day without fail. Ezra 6:9 If we really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/that-which-they-have-need-of-let-it-be-given-them-day-by-day-without/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) ## More by Helmut Jahn > [You'd never think of taking a cab if you had to walk a mile down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But in a bad city you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/you-d-never-think-of-taking-a-cab-if-you-had-to-walk-a-mile-down/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [When I came to America in the '60s, it was the place to be. I wonder if I'd come here today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/when-i-came-to-america-in-the-60s-it-was-the-place-to-be-i-wonder-if/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [Creativity has more to do with the elimination of the inessential than with inventing something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/creativity-has-more-to-do-with-the-elimination-of-the-inessential/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [Success on one project does not necessarily mean success in the next project. You've got to be prepared in everything you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/success-on-one-project-does-not-necessarily-mean-success-in-the-next/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [I find if my body feels well and I exercise regularly, I think better, work better and feel better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/i-find-if-my-body-feels-well-and-i-exercise-regularly-i-think-better/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [A good engineer thinks in reverse and asks himself about the stylistic consequences of the components and systems he proposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/a-good-engineer-thinks-in-reverse-and-asks-himself-about-the/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [The American attitude towards efficiency and execution should always underlie architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/the-american-attitude-towards-efficiency-and-execution-should-always/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [A city building, you experience when you walk; a suburban building, you experience when you drive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/a-city-building-you-experience-when-you-walk-a-suburban-building-you/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [We prefer synthetic rather than natural materials. Natural products are almost too valuable. Wood is much harder to produce than metal. And metal is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/we-prefer-synthetic-rather-than-natural-materials-natural-products/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [Chinese buildings are like American buildings, with big footprints. People don't care about daylight or fresh air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/chinese-buildings-are-like-american-buildings-with-big-footprints/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [We want our buildings to work like a machine that will create a pleasurable environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/we-want-our-buildings-to-work-like-a-machine-that-will-create-a/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [I think the younger generation, the people poised to dominate the workforce, are more socially conscious. They are more demanding in terms of environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/i-think-the-younger-generation-the-people-poised-to-dominate-the/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [Sometimes I have to accept a job I don't really want. Hardly anybody comes up to you with a commission; it's all competitions these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/sometimes-i-have-to-accept-a-job-i-don-t-really-want-hardly-anybody/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [Working is actually a pleasure. It's just very time-consuming. It's a way of life. 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If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. 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This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's my goal to make a building as immaterial as possible. Architecture is a very material thing. 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