Should architecture serve merely as a functional/formal?

Question

Should architecture serve merely as a functional/formal role or should architecture be a representation and reflection of society ?

Answer 1

It would be impossible to create architecture that wasn't a reflection of society.  What we build, the time and effort we spend on it, the materials we use and the form we give it all reflect a building's place in it's culture.  Buildings reflect the technology available at the time, which is a product of the society. The effort that goes into a building reflects it's importance (house of a king or a peasant? Cathedral or Wal-mart?). Still further, a finished building also tells of the materials available to its society (stone or sod brick?  Plywood or bamboo?), as well as the social worth of those materials (gold or seashell decor?).

Since architecture can't help but place itself as a representation and reflection of its societal values, we should choose to be conscious of how our buildings reflect our society. This consciousness is the only way that our buildings will accurately represent our societal structure  and, perhaps, serve as a reflection to ourselves about our own social values.