--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great architecture of the past was always…" description: "\"Great architecture of the past was always clear. SFMOMA is still a simple building to understand.\" — Mario Botta" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/mario-botta-26641_architecture_great-architecture-of-the-past-was-alway_1612033.jpg" --- # Great architecture of the past was always clear. SFMOMA is… ![“Great architecture of the past was always clear. SFMOMA is still a simple building to understand.” quote by Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/mario-botta-26641_architecture_great-architecture-of-the-past-was-alway_1612033.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/mario-botta-26641_architecture_great-architecture-of-the-past-was-alway_1612033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/mario-botta-26641_architecture_great-architecture-of-the-past-was-alway_1612033.jpg) > “Great architecture of the past was always clear. SFMOMA is still a simple building to understand.” [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Simple, clear designs endure better than overly complex ones. **In simple terms:** Clarity in design lasts. Key Takeaway Prioritize simplicity in architecture. Themes design clarity timelessness Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - building design - urban planning - renovation projects Key Concepts Modernism functionalism Questions to Reflect On - How does simplicity affect user experience? - When is complexity justified? A Different Perspective Complexity can convey meaning when used wisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Architecture Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture-past-2168082/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-architecture-1156801/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Sfmoma Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sfmoma-simple-6147927/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-building-6147928/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The art and architecture of the past that we know is that which remains. 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Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-johnson/all-architecture-is-shelter-all-great-architecture-is-the-design-of/) [Philip Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-johnson/) > [Great architecture is not just about buildings like the Shard or the Guggenheim - it can be a caravan, castle, boat or house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clarke/great-architecture-is-not-just-about-buildings-like-the-shard-or-the/) [George Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clarke/) > [I think people care. If not, why do so many people spend money going on vacations to see architecture? They go to the Parthenon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-think-people-care-if-not-why-do-so-many-people-spend-money-going-on/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [An obsession that I've developed in my old age, is great architecture. I bought a house in New Orleans and I became quite enamored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-coolidge/an-obsession-that-i-ve-developed-in-my-old-age-is-great-architecture/) [Jennifer Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-coolidge/) > [All architecture is great architecture after sunset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/all-architecture-is-great-architecture-after-sunset/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Buffalo is one of America's great designed cities. The interweaving of great architecture, landscape architecture and important historic sites makes Buffalo a must see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-moe/buffalo-is-one-of-america-s-great-designed-cities-the-interweaving-of/) [Richard Moe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-moe/) > [Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nickel/great-architecture-has-only-two-natural-enemies-water-and-stupid-men/) [Richard Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nickel/) > [Working off one genius sketch is not the way great architecture should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-prince-ramus/working-off-one-genius-sketch-is-not-the-way-great-architecture/) [Joshua Prince-Ramus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-prince-ramus/) ## More by Mario Botta > [To me it was fascinating, the idea of going to university and studying a subject - architecture - that I had already faced in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/to-me-it-was-fascinating-the-idea-of-going-to-university-and-studying/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [Buildings in modern cities have lost their metaphoric aspect. Much contemporary architecture is very fragmented and busy on the outside. It's like a skin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/buildings-in-modern-cities-have-lost-their-metaphoric-aspect-much/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [I wanted to design a museum in which everything would seem clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/i-wanted-to-design-a-museum-in-which-everything-would-seem-clear/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [The architect aspires to build in a city as the artist aspires to exhibit his works in a museum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/the-architect-aspires-to-build-in-a-city-as-the-artist-aspires-to/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [It was very useful to learn the history, the theory, and the art of building from a practical background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/it-was-very-useful-to-learn-the-history-the-theory-and-the-art-of/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [There is great mystery in a church. For me, there is a great privilege to be confronted with the design of a church because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/there-is-great-mystery-in-a-church-for-me-there-is-a-great-privilege/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [Church architecture describes visually the idea of the sacred, which is a fundamental need of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/church-architecture-describes-visually-the-idea-of-the-sacred-which/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [Architecture is the constant fight between man and nature, the fight to overwhelm nature, to possess it. The first act of architecture is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/architecture-is-the-constant-fight-between-man-and-nature-the-fight/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [For me, architecture is not just creating a space to protect people but to make them dream as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/for-me-architecture-is-not-just-creating-a-space-to-protect-people/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [There's no point in us designing synthetic laboratories that could just as well be in Dusseldorf or Helsinki. San Francisco has its light, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/there-s-no-point-in-us-designing-synthetic-laboratories-that-could/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [I want to modernize the ancient. I prefer to work with materials formed naturally over thousands of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/i-want-to-modernize-the-ancient-i-prefer-to-work-with-materials/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [The architect works in the territory of memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/the-architect-works-in-the-territory-of-memory/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [The Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio comes from afar. Our land has a millennial history of emigrations: master masons, architects, builders, decorators, plasterers, artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/the-academy-of-architecture-in-mendrisio-comes-from-afar-our-land-has/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [Artificial light is used because you can control it better. Technically, it is more homogeneous, more delicate, and less damaging to artwork. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/artificial-light-is-used-because-you-can-control-it-better/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) > [A museum is a spiritual place. People lower their voices when they get close to art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-botta/a-museum-is-a-spiritual-place-people-lower-their-voices-when-they-get/) [Mario Botta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) [Explore all 18 Mario Botta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-botta/) ## More Architecture quotes > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [The Parthenon is really only a farmyard over which someone put a roof; colonades and sculptures were added because there were people in Athens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-parthenon-is-really-only-a-farmyard-over-which-someone-put-a-roof/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [I just think structure can make a book feel so much bigger. It's the architecture. You could use flimsy materials if you wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-just-think-structure-can-make-a-book-feel-so-much-bigger-it-s-the/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [When I am asked what I believe in, I say that I believe in architecture. Architecture is the mother of the arts. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meier/when-i-am-asked-what-i-believe-in-i-say-that-i-believe-in/) [Richard Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meier/) > [Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-w-fentress/some-architects-have-a-preconceived-notion-of-what-a-building-should/) [Curtis W. Fentress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-w-fentress/) > [The essential functions of the mind consist in understanding and in inventing, in other words, in building up structures by structuring reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/the-essential-functions-of-the-mind-consist-in-understanding-and-in/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [London, from the architecture to the culture to the fashion to the accents, feels like it's a special place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/london-from-the-architecture-to-the-culture-to-the-fashion-to-the/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [Architecture is not a profession for the faint-hearted, the weak-willed, or the short-lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/architecture-is-not-a-profession-for-the-faint-hearted-the-weak/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Winning a competition in architecture is a ticket to oblivion. 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