The Shape of Public Space

The Shape of Public Space

Most of the examples of classical architecture that have survived to our day are monumental in scale—large spaces designed for public gatherings or functional infrastructure. Which of the structures built in our own time serve similar functions? Which of them might be most likely to survive for millennia to come, and what would they tell our descendants about us?

Since private structures are less likely to remain intact over the centuries, does this limit the confidence with which observers (now or in the future) can infer how personal life was affected by their design? If you could guarantee the survival of one space that expresses your own experience most faithfully, what would it be, and why?