True architectural criticism is based on examining the real building in question and considering the views of its creators and users. However, this is not always possible, and therefore evaluations and criticisms are often made on the basis of photographs and printed publications.

Years ago, criticism was to be found primarily in the local media, particularly in regional publications and periodicals. Before that, only international activities such as large-scale exhibitions and publications with cross-national readerships provided information on architectural products like the Crystal Palace (1851 ), the Eiffel Tower (1889) and the Bareelona Pavilion (1928-1929).

In those days, architects and critics from countries with international languages were particularly fortunate. Publications in languages such as English, French, or German were read over a wide geographical area and by a great number of readers. This advantage enjoyed by an international language is still valid today for English, and publications in English still enjoy a marked advantage in the breadth of their appeal. Indeed, in order to reach a wider readership, publications in many countries employ English alongside their native languages. English has become the modern “Esperanto” .

The ease of communication in the electronic environment that the rapid development of digital photographic technologies provides today has been of great advantage to architecture critics and publicists, as well as to readers. Thanks to the combination of digital photography and the Internet, photographs can now be sent to almost every corner of the world without any limitation in time or space. The possibility of showing these photographs on the Internet has opened up new horizons for all. This new development has removed, to a certain extent, the differences between large and small countries.

Architectural exhibitions can be launched on the Internet. It is now possible to arrange exhibitions that can be viewed twenty-four hours a day from anywhere in the world (www.archmuseum.org for example). Besides, the Internet now makes it possible to easily arrange design competitions on an international scale. We witnessed very successful applications of this facility during the International U nion of Architects (UlA) 2005 Istanbul World Congress of Architecture. Architectural crities can also exploit recent developments in photography and information technology. Thanks to the large number of photographs and the extensive information now available, they can base their criticism on a much more reliable foundation.

Film and television have also widened the scope for critics of architecture. Years ago, a number of films that had no direct connection with architecture resulted in transforming architecture into a desirable profession. In a number of these films, the main character was an architect.