Mr. Nobel speaks with a heavy hand and and an open mind. His piece, “The Future, Retrenched,” an articles which carries with it explicit somber connotations of the state of the architectural world, with hints of optimism in his forthright approach. Mr. Nobel highlights several dissatisfying effects of the current worldwide recession on the present building development landscape such as less ambition, increase in genericism, and the comprise of artistic integrity, with a cathartic sense of inevitabilitiy.

Though he does note the current slowdown has yielded some positive gain. Indeed, architects have been pondering their artistic endeavors effects on society, the environment, and the human condition. In addition, with the dawn of a new age approaching, populations increasing and their centers shifting, many have come together to discuss what our next-generation standard community will look like. MOMA has already “announced an initiative to research architectual responses to the foreclosure crisis… imagining better-built futures for the country.” The Canadian Center for Architecture in Montreal has begun a project called “Imperfect Health” to determine architectures impact on human and environmental health. So Mr. Nobel may view the recent recent stasis of the building market with a disappointing lens, but he is quick to note the shining silver lining hidden just beneath it.