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9. Structural AestheticsSome structures are designed to meet architectural or other aesthetic requirements. Part of that appeal is the innate understanding we each have for structural behaviour learned in our formative years by familiarity and direct experience of the world around us. Hence a well designed structure may look good partially because it meets our expectations of how it should look. However the opposite is not necessarily true, a good looking structure is not necessarily efficient or even safe. Some modern, very lightweight structures, perhaps using high strength materials, do not meet our experience derived unconscious criteria and may give rise to anxiety, so should only be used where they are acceptable. (Even Sir Christopher Wren was forced to add columns, which did not reach the ceiling, in one of his churches to keep the church elders happy.) Wherever possible, designers should aim to produce an aesthetically pleasing structure. (For a general discussion of this topic see 'Aesthetics in Engineering Design', by Alistair S Macdonald, part of the Curriculum for Design - Preparation Material for Design Teaching series published by SEED.