From the very beginning of this passage, the idea of duality is present and I believe it is pervasive throughout the rest of the piece. The title, The Edifice Complex, can be interpreted in a few ways. From an architectural standpoint, it can mean a large and imposing building or structure. Moreover, from a psychological perspective, an edifice can be a system of beliefs and a complex usually implies some sort of core emotions related to a common theme such as status or power.

This idea of duality continues in this passage, when Sudjic posses the question about whether architecture can project an inherent meaning on a building. Do certain features or facets make a building totalitarian, democratic, religious, or nationalistic? He then proceeds to make a statement about why we build that does not answer this question but gives it some context. “We build for emotional and psychological purposes, as well for ideological and practical reasons.” This dichotomy mirrors the dichotomy of the title. There is an emotional and mental aspect to architecture as well as a very concrete and functional aspect. This is, where I believe, the subtitle “How The Rich and Powerful Shape The World” becomes important. In most cases, homes and buildings for the majority of people are made to be practical and pragmatic. However, when people acquire wealth and can theoretically build whatever they please, emotion becomes the driving force. They want it to be extravagant. Functionality is replaced by form and these wealthy elite pay to have the trendiest and most revolutionary designs.

Sudjic ends this chapter with a line, “architecture has its roots in the creation of shelter in a physical sense, but it has become an attempt to construct a particular view of the world.” This once again highlights the overriding idea of duality while also giving support to the idea that the wealthy shape the world. In order to construct this particular view, one must have the means and therefore only someone with the means by which to construct a view can effectively get their vision across. “Architecture is shaped by the powerful, and not the many. But that does not make it any less significant.” The duality by which architecture is exclusive and limited but also inclusive and open to all.