--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best engineer a few decades ago was…" description: "\"The best engineer a few decades ago was someone who could create the most beautiful beam or structure; today it's to do a structure you cannot see or u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/jean-nouvel-33095_aesthetic_the-best-engineer-a-few-decades-ago-was_1763588.png" --- # The best engineer a few decades ago was someone who could… ![“The best engineer a few decades ago was someone who could create the most beautiful beam or structure; today it's to do a structure you cannot see or understand how it's done. It disappears and you can talk only about color, symbols, and light. It's an aesthetic of miracle.” quote by Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/jean-nouvel-33095_aesthetic_the-best-engineer-a-few-decades-ago-was_1763588.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/jean-nouvel-33095_aesthetic_the-best-engineer-a-few-decades-ago-was_1763588.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/jean-nouvel-33095_aesthetic_the-best-engineer-a-few-decades-ago-was_1763588.png) > “The best engineer a few decades ago was someone who could create the most beautiful beam or structure; today it's to do a structure you cannot see or understand how it's done. It disappears and you can talk only about color, symbols, and light. It's an aesthetic of miracle.” [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern engineering values invisible, complex systems over visible, decorative structures, emphasizing function and technology. **In simple terms:** Today’s engineering focuses on hidden, complex structures. Key Takeaway Embrace invisible complexity. Themes technology design innovation aesthetics Mood thoughtful inspired Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - architectural design - software engineering - product development - urban planning Key Concepts systems theory digital fabrication interdisciplinary collaboration Questions to Reflect On - How do we ensure transparency in invisible systems? - What role does aesthetics play in functional design? A Different Perspective Complexity can obscure accountability and user understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aesthetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesthetic/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Beam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beam/) [Beam Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beam-structure-1713584/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beautiful Beam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-beam-1713579/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Best Engineer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-engineer-1713582/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Create Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-beautiful/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Disappear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappear/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Engineers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineers/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/structure/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [“The best engineer in the world can’t build a 10-story sandcastle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-dorsey/the-best-engineer-in-the-world-can-t-build-a-10-story-sandcastle/) [Pat Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-dorsey/) > [If you come in with all of the answers, you might create something that's very beautiful and powerful, but I think it will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-frost/if-you-come-in-with-all-of-the-answers-you-might-create-something/) [Mark Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-frost/) > [“Act as if you're a writer. Sit down and begin. Act as if you might just create something beautiful, and by beautiful I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/act-as-if-you-re-a-writer-sit-down-and-begin-act-as-if-you-might-just/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [It has never been easy for me to understand why people work so hard to create something beautiful, but then refuse to share it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/it-has-never-been-easy-for-me-to-understand-why-people-work-so-hard/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [An artist should create beautiful things, but should put nothing of his own life into them. We live in an age when men treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/an-artist-should-create-beautiful-things-but-should-put-nothing-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Poets are not so scrupulous as you are. They know how useful passion is for publication. Nowadays a broken heart will run to many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/poets-are-not-so-scrupulous-as-you-are-they-know-how-useful-passion/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [We can create a more beautiful nature by not touching it and by leaving it alone!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-can-create-a-more-beautiful-nature-by-not-touching-it-and-by/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Perhaps someone , somewhere , will create something so beautiful it will change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mabor-maker-kulang/perhaps-someone-somewhere-will-create-something-so-beautiful-it-will/) [Mabor Maker Kulang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mabor-maker-kulang/) > [“There are two different kinds of people in the world. There are people who instinctively look for every chance to be a “victim” and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hawke/there-are-two-different-kinds-of-people-in-the-world-there-are-people/) [Christopher Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hawke/) > [I've watched my mom take a plain piece of paper and create something beautiful out of it, and I think that kind of manifested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-kampouris/i-ve-watched-my-mom-take-a-plain-piece-of-paper-and-create-something/) [Elena Kampouris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-kampouris/) > [Sometimes people with the worst past can create the most beautiful future...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/sometimes-people-with-the-worst-past-can-create-the-most-beautiful/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [I'm helping people create beautiful new spaces to spend time with their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-anstead/i-m-helping-people-create-beautiful-new-spaces-to-spend-time-with/) [Christina Anstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-anstead/) > [“I wanted to create something beautiful in place of all the ugliness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-wanted-to-create-something-beautiful-in-place-of-all-the-ugliness/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [“My dream is to create something so beautiful that it encourages people to present the best version of themselves to me everywhere I go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/my-dream-is-to-create-something-so-beautiful-that-it-encourages/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) > [“Create something beautiful every day. Value each day as special and unique. Your obsession with past failures or future desires robs you of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-starr/create-something-beautiful-every-day-value-each-day-as-special-and/) [Sean Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-starr/) ## More by Jean Nouvel > [Each new situation requires a new architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/each-new-situation-requires-a-new-architecture/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [The task of the architect is to encompass everything about the site, starting from the concrete conditions and the sensory impressions created by those,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/the-task-of-the-architect-is-to-encompass-everything-about-the-site/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [Architecture exists, like cinema, in the dimension of time and movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/architecture-exists-like-cinema-in-the-dimension-of-time-and-movement/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [I don't like the idea that one hotel could be better than another. In any city, I try to find a hotel that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/i-don-t-like-the-idea-that-one-hotel-could-be-better-than-another-in/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [Art should be created for life, not for the museum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/art-should-be-created-for-life-not-for-the-museum/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [I like to play with architecture! It's my favorite game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/i-like-to-play-with-architecture-it-s-my-favorite-game/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [I generally hate the luxury modern apartment with too many things out of sight and so clean you cannot touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/i-generally-hate-the-luxury-modern-apartment-with-too-many-things-out/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [I think architecture has to be a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/i-think-architecture-has-to-be-a-gift/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [If there was a fire at my house I would throw more things on it. The only thing I would take out? Myself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/if-there-was-a-fire-at-my-house-i-would-throw-more-things-on-it-the/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [My interest has always been in an architecture which reflects the modernity of our epoch as opposed to the rethinking of historical references. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/my-interest-has-always-been-in-an-architecture-which-reflects-the/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [Space, space: architects always talk about space! But creating a space is not automatically doing architecture. With the same space, you can make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/space-space-architects-always-talk-about-space-but-creating-a-space/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [My buildings are more famous than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/my-buildings-are-more-famous-than-me/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [It is not possible to design always the same. How to be different in each different place - that is the most important work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/it-is-not-possible-to-design-always-the-same-how-to-be-different-in/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) > [I like English parks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-nouvel/i-like-english-parks/) [Jean Nouvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) [Explore all 15 Jean Nouvel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-nouvel/) ## More Aesthetic quotes > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Beauty in the European sense has always had a premeditated quality to it. We've always had an aesthetic intention and a long-range plan. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/beauty-in-the-european-sense-has-always-had-a-premeditated-quality-to/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [All efforts to render politics aesthetic culminate in one thing: war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-efforts-to-render-politics-aesthetic-culminate-in-one-thing-war/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [I don't think I was ever thinking critically about my aesthetic, I think it's enough when you're little just to understand that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavi-gevinson/i-don-t-think-i-was-ever-thinking-critically-about-my-aesthetic-i/) [Tavi Gevinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavi-gevinson/) > [I'm kind of still down with Virg Woolf on this one: "women must kill the aesthetic ideal through which they themselves have been 'killed'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/i-m-kind-of-still-down-with-virg-woolf-on-this-one-women-must-kill/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [There is a certain aesthetic pleasure in trying to imagine the unimaginable and failing, if you are a reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/there-is-a-certain-aesthetic-pleasure-in-trying-to-imagine-the/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [I try to get the hip-hop aesthetic, most times without an MC. I don't use a rapper or a DJ to give it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-glasper/i-try-to-get-the-hip-hop-aesthetic-most-times-without-an-mc-i-don-t/) [Robert Glasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-glasper/) > [It's so important what you're doing in your life. It's tremendously important to the work, and no aesthetic theories take that into account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maus/it-s-so-important-what-you-re-doing-in-your-life-it-s-tremendously/) [John Maus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maus/) > [It is not necessary to have an extravagant food budget in order to serve things with variety and tastefully cooked. It is not necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/it-is-not-necessary-to-have-an-extravagant-food-budget-in-order-to/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) > [In reality no food is valued solely for its nutritive power and no garment or house solely for the protection it affords against cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/in-reality-no-food-is-valued-solely-for-its-nutritive-power-and-no/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Art is realistic when it strives to express an ethical ideal. Realism is striving for truth, and truth is always beautiful. Here the aesthetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/art-is-realistic-when-it-strives-to-express-an-ethical-ideal-realism/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) > [I had always wanted to expand to beauty, but I knew I wanted to be able to translate my design aesthetic in an authentic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-ronson/i-had-always-wanted-to-expand-to-beauty-but-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be/) [Charlotte Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-ronson/) > [I wanted the press to become something of a movement. Not a movement committed to a particular 'ism', but a gathering together of writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-metcalf/i-wanted-the-press-to-become-something-of-a-movement-not-a-movement/) [John Metcalf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-metcalf/) [Browse all 953 Aesthetic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesthetic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best engineer a few decades ago was someone who could create the most beautiful beam or structure; today it's to do a structure you cannot see or understand how it's done. It disappears and you can talk only about color, symbols, and light. 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