For centuries, architecture was rooted in the pursuit of beauty, fueling the growth of countless vibrant cultures and traditions across the globe. Today, we find ourselves departed from this ideal, as our built environments become ever more functional but increasingly soulless and inhuman. There is something fundamentally wrong with the architecture of our time, and we believe it stems from the lack of aesthetic priority.

Put usefulness first, and you lose it. Put beauty first, and what you do will be useful forever.

-Roger Scruton

With the Beauty and Ugliness Conference, we are exploring how architectural traditions can inform contemporary design challenges, paving the way for a more beautiful and sustainable future. Our goal is to bridge the gap between history and modernity, seeing tradition as part of our cultural identity and human desire for the good. We invite architects, urban planners, craftsmen, politicians and the general public for two days of actionable insights and aesthetic strategies to create spaces and buildings that are not only functional, but filled with soul, beauty, and purpose.