• Ancient Roman architecture has influenced countless modern designs.Buena Vista Images/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Modern architecture still draws from a variety of historical precedents in building design, with features such as the arch and column remaining popular due to their sound basis in logical engineering. The key difference in modern architecture is that industry has made new materials available that can drastically change what types of designs are technically feasible. For example, without large quantities of inexpensive steel, the modern skyscrapers which personify corporate America would not exist.
  
  

How the Old Influences the New

• The most prominent example of how old architectural designs influenced new architectural theory can be seen in the classic arch. Arches found use in the construction of everything from ancient Roman aqueducts and bridges to the halls of medieval nobility. Churches and cathedrals also act as a living record of the importance of the arch in historical architecture. In the modern era, it is still quite easy to see the arch in use, particularly in bridge construction--although there are other technologies available, there is no need for any other design. Another prime example of ancient architecture influencing modern buildings is the way the Greek column has been emulated in North American modern structures. It is virtually impossible to walk through any downtown core in North America without seeing at least a few of them, whether they are structurally important or merely a stylized facade.
  
  

Modern Material Science in Architecture

• Material sciences have a tangible impact on construction methods in the modern era. Some new materials act as replacements for older materials while others present new characteristics that make previously impossible designs available for construction; for instance, replacing heavy plate glass with lighter-weight Lexan sheets can significantly reduce the weight of complex translucent structures such as a geodesic dome. Carbon composite materials are another major innovation, with significant impact on the architecture and construction industries. Carbon nanotubes, for example, possess far greater strength than conventional steel, making this budding field of industrial technology a heavy hitter in the architecture of the future.
  
  

Visionary Versus Practical Architecture

• The fine line between visionary architecture and impracticality is often the source of jokes in the architectural world. Ultimately, the main goal of any architect is to create a structure that is both visually appealing and long-lived but, more important, serves as a useful structure. When combining elements of artistic vision with real-world structures, an architect must always keep overall functionality in mind. Building a structure based on an MC Escher sketch might prove visually appealing; in practice, however, no one is likely to want to buy or occupy a structure built solely for artistic appeal. One interesting outlet for both visionary and practical architectural designs is that of ecologically integrated building structures. An ecologically integrated structure takes local environmental factors into account and uses them to make the structures more efficient in some way. One example would be using the high winds of a historically windy area to reduce the costs of keeping the building cool in the summer through the artistic addition of a custom-designed evaporative air conditioning system. There are countless other potential mergings of visionary arts and practicality applications, and architects who can bring these combinations to life stand to gain success.