All architects construct. Whether it be artistic will or structure that determines the design, architecture is always a question of construction. Nevertheless, allowing architectural beauty to emerge from the laws of construction requires a mastery such as that possessed by our guest speakers Mahendra Raj, Marianne Burkhalter, Diébédo Francis Kéré and Solano Benítez. ‘Be constructive!’ The imperative in the title of the lecture series has a particular meaning for all four of them. They come from four different continents, and each of them has used their own respective contexts with their specific circumstances to forge significant architectures. Their works combine expression, form and constructional principles, epitomising Stéphane Mallarmé’s saying that ‘A poem is made of words not feelings.’ Behind an architectural design lies a fine, inventive and efficient construction.