Monumental architecture is a form of building intent on making a cultural statement beyond the functionality of the building itself. It is a means of interpreting the social values of a particular place as it evolves over time through its construction, [[maintenance]], or neglect. Monumental architecture can be part of a broader placemaking strategy, or it can be an isolated whim of the person or group funding its design and implementation. It can also emerge from a particular style, such as Brutalism. #### Examples - Arc d'Triomphe - Eiffel Tower - Cathedrals - Pyramids - Washington Monument Monuments express individual [[yearning]] for timelessness in architecture. They illustrate the desire for an idea to endure beyond its temporal context. As culture evolves, monuments begin to represent the [[Creative Tension]] between the structure's persistence through time and the expression of its experience through [[Types of Time|time]]. A monument's presence becomes [wabi-sabi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi), it evolves into a [[Concept of Centers|center]], becoming living space. This may not be not necessarily the original intent behind their construction. *[Schwerbelastungskorper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwerbelastungsk%C3%B6rper)*, the "Nazi Block," is an interesting example of a folly become monumental architecture. It represents a failed [[Paradigms|paradigm]] that nevertheless informs its surroundings. It's [[Afterlife of Design|afterlife]] Importantly, monuments are public works. They possess social capital on top of their material worth. Private works of architecture may have an intrinsic value for their patrons, but have finite lifespans of a few generations. They demonstrate architecture's inability to adapt to commodification, as a form of subjective value and a non-portable investment. %%