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what are the criteria for a well done architecture?

What are the things that help us decide if an architecture of a building is better than the other?

Public Comments

1. Form follows function. Does it cost too much to heat because the architect has a thing for huge ''airy'' glass walls. Does it leak, and have things fall off because the architect (frank G) think ''boxes are boring. Buildings that are designed by people who have a good understanding of building, plumbing, electrical, and energy codes usually work well. Failure is a result of architects trying to make names for themselves as ''artistes'' by, among other things, rejecting right angle walls as not ''flowing and organic'', even though square buildings are optimal for so many reasons.
2. Like with any design, I would identify two that make the difference: Art/Form: 1) There is the modernist Mies van der Rohe building and then there is the mass produced Mediterranean suburb dwelling. One has taste the other one is an abomination of nature. Function : 2) Does the building serve its inhabitants. In some cases only function counts, e.g. if you are building a bunker it only matters what size bomb it can withstand. But in most cases the function is tailored to the inhabitants and a well designed building will make living in it easy and pleasant for its users. An architect who can balance 1) with 2) will generally produce "better" buildings than someone who can't. PS: in the end "the decision making organ" is someones sense of taste. If they ain't got no taste, they don't have to worry much about being able to find good art or architecture and will probably be happy in any box with four sides, a roof, a door and a window - or will be overjoyed to live under false stucco over fake marble painted on top of plywood held up by two by fours - that's pretty much most of what you find in the US.
3. People can provide all kinds of answers but the simple truth is beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Architecture should please the eye. One bit of architecture is not better than another just different. As far as function is concerned, you don't have to be an architect to provide a functional building. You can do that with common sense and some careful thought