When a new building is constructed, what elements does it need to impress you? What makes it beautiful? Is it the site, its facades, sustainability...etc :)

hard to say. Refinement, clearness, quality, proportion, zoom-in-quality, character, calmness perhaps. Like with people, it's the ones that don't need to scream for attention that are most beautiful.

For me, part of it is the building's location. A building needs to fit in with those around it. Certainly it doesn't need to be the same, but the context around the building is an important factor. It wouldn't make sense for the Burj Dubai to be in Venice. It also wouldn't be great to see Buckingham palace in Chicago. Cities each have their own style and architects that work with that style instead of against it make buildings a bit more beautiful. Part of this is proportion of the buildings as mentioned above.

I agree with you both, I also think that the historical buildings need to blend in with the contemporary buildings. Also, the function of the building should show in its construction.

Also, the function of the building should show in its construction.That sounds very modernist. I don't fully agree with you (and probably most contemporary architects) on this one. I'd like to see something of the specific location or buildings user in the design, that necessarily doesn't have to be a part of the structure itself. Especially the use of symbols in the design is very cool. But it has to be something meaningful for the user or location itself, otherwise it is out of place. Classical greek elements are terrible when they are used in China for example.

That sounds very modernist. I don't fully agree with you (and probably most contemporary architects) on this one. I'd like to see something of the specific location or buildings user in the design, that necessarily doesn't have to be a part of the structure itself. Especially the use of symbols in the design is very cool. But it has to be something meaningful for the user or location itself, otherwise it is out of place. Classical greek elements are terrible when they are used in China for example.

Actually I don't see myself as a modernist, as I like richly detailed architecture (though I understand how you could've understood it that way). What I meant was that you can get a sensation of what the functions of the building is by the look of it, whether it is symbolic or not. If you're in a cinema, the building probably shouldn't look like a hospital :)

Allright, I'd like to add authenticity and context to the aspects that are important for the beauty of a building.

That sounds very modernist. I don't fully agree with you (and probably most contemporary architects) on this one. I'd like to see something of the specific location or buildings user in the design, that necessarily doesn't have to be a part of the structure itself. Especially the use of symbols in the design is very cool. But it has to be something meaningful for the user or location itself, otherwise it is out of place. Classical greek elements are terrible when they are used in China for example.

the use of symbols then again sounds equaly post-modernist ;)

But I agree there is something about the meaning of buildings that is somehow important too.

Meaning is generated by means of architecture, function, context, but is also greatly absorbed (and constantly changed) in time. In it's extremes it means that on one hand there are buildings that have to loose their meaning before they can be appreciated for their beauty; it takes a long time before structures of Albert Speer will seize to be ideological monuments to become architectural monuments. On the other hand there are structures that owe a lot of their beauty to history; because of this the Hagia Sophia might be the most beautiful building I ever saw.

the use of symbols then again sounds equaly post-modernist ;)That's right. I am a huge fan of it :)
Meaning is generated by means of architecture, function, context, but is also greatly absorbed (and constantly changed) in time.One of the most beautiful buildings i've ever seen was the Taj Mahal (yes i know, not very post-modern ;)) In my opinion the beauty was not only something of the building itself, also the context had a very big role in that. You never seen this context on the pictures, because it forms a huge contrast with the building itself. The Taj Mahal stands in the middle of the chaotic slums of Agra, so the poverty around it made the serene white building look even more perfect.

Here's a nice example of a new post-modern complex in the Netherlands. The re-designed station area of Zaanstad (close to Amsterdam). Most people find this complex hideous, and i can't blame them for their opinion. With these buildings Zaanstad would like to get something of its heritage back, not by rebuilding old destroyed houses but by building these old houses with a present day interpretation.

So instead of rebuilding this...
http://www.figuralminibottles.net/goedewaagen/Goedewaagen/zaanse%20schans2.jpg

...they build this
http://www.houtrib7.nl/picture_library/inntel.jpg

It is a quite extreme form of post-modernism, but i like to see more of this (of course not on every location)

This building reminds me of Heineken