There are two things that make a building perfect – design and detail. The two Ds are indispensible for architecture that’s supposed to appeal aesthetically as well as serve a practical purpose. And if you look at most buildings of note in Europe, you’ll see that they feature both design and detail to achieve perfection and splendor at the highest levels. If we were to learn a thing or two from the Europeans on paying attention to design and detail, it would be because:
- They are perfectionists: Europeans are perfectionists who focus on doing rather than on talking. Americans on the other hand, are used to talking loudly about their plans and dreams, but do not seem to do much in the way of action. They may plan big and flashy, but when it comes to paying attention to the nitty-gritty of the design and detail, they fall far short of expectations. The Europeans are used to letting their work do the talking for them.
- It’s ingrained in them: In America, we tend to talk of attention to design and detail like it’s a big deal. Yes, it is something that is very important, but for the Europeans, it’s just part of their routine. They don’t see the need to emphasize it because it’s ingrained in all of them – they do it by force of habit rather than making an exception of it. When you pay attention to design and detail as a matter of course, it’s easy to see how quality and perfection are the mainstay of all your creations.
- They like to excel at anything they do: Europe is a continent that comprises a number of small nations; and to make up for their littleness in size, they think big and act out on their plans. In order to make the world sit up and take notice of them as more than just a group of hodge-podge countries thrown together, they pay attention to design and detail in all their architecture so that the spotlight that’s shone on them is positive rather than negative.