In Search of Balance

Yesterday, I passed by a new private house in a historic district. A house like any other—modern, minimalist, with large windows. But surrounded by century-old mansions, it looked like an alien at a village fair.

And this made me reflect on a deeper question: do we have the right to impose modern aesthetics on a historically established environment? Or perhaps every building should engage in a dialogue with its surroundings, respecting the architectural language of the place?

On the one hand, architecture has always evolved, and in any historic city, buildings from different eras coexist. On the other hand, there is the concept of context, the spirit of the place, genius loci, which one can either respect or ignore.

I believe the answer lies not in blindly imitating historical styles nor in boldly rejecting the past, but in a thoughtful dialogue with the context. One can use modern materials and technologies while still considering the proportions, rhythm, and scale of the surrounding buildings.