San Francisco is a cutting-edge city in so many ways, so why does it lag behind other big metropolises when it comes to innovative architecture? Perhaps it’s not entirely a bad thing, especially if the city’s reluctance to embrace New York-style modernism is rooted in a devotion to its own unique look. “[G]ood buildings here have deep roots. They’re tied to their setting, whether it’s a rural hillside or a city street, and they draw on what’s around them… Second, there’s a conscious attempt to build on the past in fresh ways, [and] finally, the good local architects appreciate how our urban world is shaped by nature. The Bay Area is not some blank slate waiting for buildings to shape the landscape. What makes this region special is the environment.”