The earliest surviving written work on the subject of architecture is De architectura, by the Roman architect Vitruvius in the early 1st century AD. According to Vitruvius, a good building should satisfy the three principles of firmitas, utilitas, venustas, commonly known by the original translation – firmness, commodity and delight. An equivalent in modern English would be:
Is there an answer to this question (If it cannot be answered, say "unanswerable"): What were Vitruvius' three principles for a well made building?
firmitas, utilitas, venustas