Building Optimism

Building Optimism

Share this post

Building Optimism
Building Optimism
Architectural Vulgarity

Architectural Vulgarity

Why good cities are popularity contests, and the winners are beautifully simplistic

Coby Lefkowitz's avatar
Coby Lefkowitz
Jun 07, 2025
∙ Paid
35

Share this post

Building Optimism
Building Optimism
Architectural Vulgarity
5
Share
A visual representation of how Forum Romanum (the western end) might have looked around 300 AD. This is superb civic architectural vulgarity, where Romans would gather to fulfill all daily needs.

City builders must become more vulgar. This is a provocation, yes, but I don’t mean it in the modern understanding of the word (lacking refinement, or good ta…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Building Optimism to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Coby Lefkowitz
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share