A series of essays surveys practical and aesthetic issues in contemporary architecture, addressing the appearance and civic role of public and commercial buildings, the design of offices, banks, stations and churches, and the character of suburban and country houses. Topics include the use of classical elements such as columns, the emergence of new stylistic tendencies, colour and materials in street architecture, the effects of pollution and planning on urban form, and comparisons with modern American practice. The collection argues for coherent public taste, thoughtful town planning, and an architecture that reflects communal standards of dignity and decorum.