As time passes, modern society and cultures are slowly integrating into "a world that is increasingly becoming a global, economically and technologically interdependent whole , where universal mobility is taking architects and architecture across borders and across continents at an unprecedented speed." (Tzonis and Lefaivre, 484) The universalization of culture is in some sense a progress for humanity, yet global integration threatens to subtly disintegrate stylistic innovation in architecture as universal styles and cultures take over upper hand. To address the threat of globalization in architecture, it is imperative to focus on the use of critical regionalism across the world. Through the integration of buildings into the site and the use of local materials and styles, the architect can revitalize and preserve the uniqueness of local cultures in their modern design interpretations. When designing, a critical regionalist must emphasize site-specific factors. These range from topographical elements, climatic conditions and the solar orientation of the site. The universal style tends to remove topographical elements by leveling the entire site and superimposing the building on top. Removing topography involves disconnection from the place. As such, the building can be constructed in any flattened position and its uniqueness is lost. Integrating topography into the design is crucial. Mario Botta coins the phrase “building the site”. (Frampton, 478) What he implies by this is not only how buildings rest on or in the site, but also how they reconstruct and construct the site. Instead of becoming an independent object, the building becomes one with the place and culture. ...... middle of paper ...... the vernacular of the area, together with the timber that evokes the wooded environment of the town of Säynätsalo. His design considerations ultimately lead to the design of a building that successfully interacts with the environment and place, preserving the uniqueness of neighboring cultures. The universalization of culture, although an advance in humanity's communications and interaction, ultimately threatens to disintegrate the world styles in architecture as universal styles continue to progressively overtake the local. However, by focusing on the use of critical regionalism around the world, the uniqueness of cultures can be preserved. Through the integration of the buildings into the site and the use of local materials and style, the architect will revitalize and preserve the uniqueness of local cultures in their modern interpretations of design.