While on the individual level, I don’t think values have changed; I do think that since the Renaissance, our collective ideals have shifted. No longer do families live in tight-knit, cross generational homes, but in studio apartments or with roommates you meet at the beginning of semester then disconnect from, we’ve lost the habitual connections that allows us to rely on a village around us. Despite this, I think that the search for beauty whether that be in nature or in art has remained consistent over time.
Our individualism and isolation allow for car-centric sprawl (as opposed to tight alleys) {we also are no longer confined to the protective walls of the city}, but our search for harmony leads to the beautiful and innovative infrastructure we see being built today.
Swanson School of Engineering 