Political commentator Tucker Carlson isn't shy about expressing his opinions, whether the topic is building political coalitions or building buildings. He once bemoaned “the oppression of post-modern architecture, which is designed to ... destroy your spirit.”

Carlson considered Moscow an exception − prompting one commenter to retort that Moscow is filled with “spirit-destroying architecture. … The vast majority of the city is Soviet-built grey cement rectangles as far as the eye can see.”

Carlson and his political foes seem to find rare common ground in viewing modern architecture as soul-crushing. Data shows more traditional designs are widely preferred on a bipartisan basis. Recent polling by the National Civic Art Society found that 72% of Americans across political, racial, gender and class lines prefer traditional architecture for U.S. courthouses and federal office buildings.

During his first administration, President Donald Trump even issued an executive order intended to "Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again." (It was later overturned.)

Traditional architecture is really a broadly held........

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