現代建築理論、教育與實踐中，將建築視為視覺性的美感空間與物理結構，主要研究其中的歷史、功能、技術與形式特質，其中的分析聚焦於建築作為實體物件和空間本身，以及強調幾何與構成元素，也包括如何呈現已存在於繪圖中的特性。由於建築並未自成一套完整理論，研究觀點與方法時常取經於其他學科，研究興趣和主流也幾經變遷，但各項理論架構是否能應用在特定實際建築上，也常受到質疑。（全文請見《實構築》季刊05期）

Modern architectural theory, education and practice have regarded architecture as visually aestheticised spaces and material structures, and primarily studied their historical, functional, technical and formal characteristics. The analyses have focused on architecture as physical objects and spaces and their geometric and compositional qualities, as well as the representation of these properties in drawings. As architecture does not possess a comprehensive theory of its own, the point of view and method of research have usually been borrowed from other disciplines in accordance with changing interests and fashions; often the applicability of the chosen theoretical frameworks have been highly questionable in the specific reality of architecture.