--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today, architecture is invention. It…" description: "\"Today, architecture is invention. It isn't enough to just be rational - It must also be beautiful.\" — Oscar Niemeyer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/oscar-niemeyer-12939_architecture_today-architecture-is-invention-it-isn-t_240775.png" --- # Today, architecture is invention. It isn't enough to just… ![“Today, architecture is invention. It isn't enough to just be rational - It must also be beautiful.” quote by Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/oscar-niemeyer-12939_architecture_today-architecture-is-invention-it-isn-t_240775.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/oscar-niemeyer-12939_architecture_today-architecture-is-invention-it-isn-t_240775.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/oscar-niemeyer-12939_architecture_today-architecture-is-invention-it-isn-t_240775.png) > “Today, architecture is invention. It isn't enough to just be rational - It must also be beautiful.” [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Architecture must blend rational function with aesthetic beauty to be truly successful. **In simple terms:** Design needs both logic and beauty. Key Takeaway Combine practicality with artistry. Themes design beauty function creativity Mood inspired thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - urban planning - building design - product development Key Concepts aesthetics human-centered design Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance function and beauty in your work? - What compromises are acceptable? A Different Perspective Beauty may be subjective, limiting universal acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [Architecture is invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/architecture-is-invention/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [In the past, young, talented architects worked together to form a strong social agenda and communicate with a larger audience. That's what today's architecture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-yansong/in-the-past-young-talented-architects-worked-together-to-form-a/) [Ma Yansong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-yansong/) > [All important architecture of the last century was strongly influenced by political systems. Look at the Soviet system, with its constructivism and Stalinism, Weimer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/all-important-architecture-of-the-last-century-was-strongly/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Isn't telling about something-using words, English or Japanese-already something of an invention? Isn't just looking upon this world already something of an invention?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/isn-t-telling-about-something-using-words-english-or-japanese-already-2/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [“We are not creators; only combiners of the created. Invention isn't about new ingredients, but new recipes. And innovations taste the best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/we-are-not-creators-only-combiners-of-the-created-invention-isn-t/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [Invention isn't some impenetrable brand of magic; anyone can have a go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-baylis/invention-isn-t-some-impenetrable-brand-of-magic-anyone-can-have-a-go/) [Trevor Baylis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-baylis/) > [“Isn't telling about something--using words, English or Japanese--already something of an invention? Isn't just looking upon this world already something of an invention? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/isn-t-telling-about-something-using-words-english-or-japanese-already/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [Arithmetic starts with the integers and proceeds by successively enlarging the number system by rational and negative numbers, irrational numbers, etc... But the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-robinson/arithmetic-starts-with-the-integers-and-proceeds-by-successively/) [Abraham Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-robinson/) > [The flood of photos sweeps away the dams of memory. Never before has a period known so little about itself. In the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-kracauer/the-flood-of-photos-sweeps-away-the-dams-of-memory-never-before-has-a/) [Siegfried Kracauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-kracauer/) > [UKIP's success would never have happened without the invention of YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/ukip-s-success-would-never-have-happened-without-the-invention-of/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) ## More by Oscar Niemeyer > [Of course, I have given my engineers some headaches over the years, but they go with me. I have always wanted my buildings to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/of-course-i-have-given-my-engineers-some-headaches-over-the-years-but/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [Surprise is key in all art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/surprise-is-key-in-all-art/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [Architecture is my work, and I've spent my whole life at a drawing board, but life is more important than architecture. What matters is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/architecture-is-my-work-and-i-ve-spent-my-whole-life-at-a-drawing/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [Camus says in 'The Stranger' that reason is the enemy of imagination. Sometimes you have to put reason aside and make something beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/camus-says-in-the-stranger-that-reason-is-the-enemy-of-imagination/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [I had some good opportunities. I was lucky to have had the chance to do things differently. Architecture is about surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/i-had-some-good-opportunities-i-was-lucky-to-have-had-the-chance-to/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [There is no reason to design buildings that are more basic and rectilinear, because with concrete you can cover almost any space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/there-is-no-reason-to-design-buildings-that-are-more-basic-and/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [I search for surprise in my architecture. A work of art should cause the emotion of newness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/i-search-for-surprise-in-my-architecture-a-work-of-art-should-cause/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [Right angles don't attract me. Nor straight, hard and inflexible lines created by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/right-angles-don-t-attract-me-nor-straight-hard-and-inflexible-lines/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [The challenge of a cathedral is very good for architectural inventiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/the-challenge-of-a-cathedral-is-very-good-for-architectural/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [My work is not about 'form follows function,' but 'form follows beauty' or, even better, 'form follows feminine.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/my-work-is-not-about-form-follows-function-but-form-follows-beauty-or/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [Architecture was my way of expressing my ideals: to be simple, to create a world equal to everyone, to look at people with optimism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/architecture-was-my-way-of-expressing-my-ideals-to-be-simple-to/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [Here, then, is what I wanted to tell you of my architecture. I created it with courage and idealism, but also with an awareness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/here-then-is-what-i-wanted-to-tell-you-of-my-architecture-i-created/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [Architecture is invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/architecture-is-invention/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [A church is something very beautiful. It is nice when people feel happy in it. But I am not a religious man. Look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/a-church-is-something-very-beautiful-it-is-nice-when-people-feel/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) > [I pick up my pen. It flows. A building appears. There it is. There is nothing more to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-niemeyer/i-pick-up-my-pen-it-flows-a-building-appears-there-it-is-there-is/) [Oscar Niemeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) [Explore all 52 Oscar Niemeyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-niemeyer/) ## 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. 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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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