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The short intervention pleads for a comprehensive analysis of architecture in the sense of an encompassing history of the built environment. Trespassing beyond the study of formal invention and mere aesthetic qualities, the paper argues for a holistic or systemic approach that aims at incorporating the many truly fundamental and foundational aspects, like capital in the form of land or financial resources, or power. Since many forces shape the building, it is a unique source in its own right that can be used, in turn, for an enhanced understanding of past societies. At the same time, this broader assessment is meaningful and relevant for us today.