"Nothing to add to that quote."

Why add anything? The author has said it all, three times at least. I agree with the sentiment, but they're flogging a dead horse while neglecting to venture into the territory of how this lack of emotion, uniformity and minimalism is reflected in other areas of present-day life. From their minimalist design website, I might add.

I'm a fan of minimalism in some situations, but I'm more a fan of protecting architecture. That which is lost to someone's questionable taste rarely makes a comeback. This has been going on for almost a hundred years and it won't change.

You're right, of course.

Funny enough, my understanding of minimalism (don't add useless stuff to my enviroment, be humble, be lazy, focus for greater effect etc.) is not what some people think of, which I can only interpret as brutalism (adapt yourself to things instead of the other way around, replace things for the sake of it, invest a lot of time, work and destruction to scratch issues of personal taste).

The psychological effects of architecture are very real though – less variation in street blocks for example is proven to lower your mood.

Minimalism can still have warmth, but I think brutalism, by definition must be cold, and concrete should be a major component. But words morph according to need, and I think “brutalism” is still morphing, and has been since being coined. Maybe it could be said that brutalism is minimalism that a minimalist doesn’t care for.

Some people will move into an old house and cut down the hundred year-old oaks and shrubs, and lay gravel where grass lawns once were. It’s hard to argue that is not more efficient in the long term, and it’s certainly their right, but it’s also hard to argue there isn’t some loss to the community.

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Well screw that, I choose the house on the right!

Literally see nothing wrong with this.

I am a bigger fan of minimalism. To me, the optimal home is devoid of all the clutter that lacks utility. Now, an owner might find utility in having a popping turquoise paint applied and their favorite books strewn about... for me I enjoy clean geometric lines formed by the grain of black walnut, cement and steel with only items that I will use regularly visible.

I wonder what can be inferred about a person by such varied preferences... i would read an article about that.