For far too many people, building a home is intimidating and disempowering. Folks don't necessarily know they want inspired and thoughtful design. Not everybody will ask architects to make something special for them.

Uncommon celebrates design and architecture. We seek to inspire by featuring buildings of architectural significance (no cliché and nothing glib) and taking a trip into the minds of industry leaders and rising talents. We investigate the thought and creation process, how they make sense of life with a building.

Young residents of Athens used to take an oath to leave their city better - more beautiful - than it was left to them. They understood the power of architecture, its ability to stir, heal, rejuvenate. When done well, architecture added to the sum of human happiness, uplifting communities, reducing crime and transforming economies. This is our ambition.

There are forces at work against those that want to produce meaningful architecture.

This is our push back.