In 1962 I interpreted the song as being about conformity rather than architecture.

If I remember correctly, in 1962 the conformity that the little boxes represented was viewed as a symptom and/or cause of some serious problems within the society that gave birth to it. Some people felt that society was headed in the wrong direction and the only thing that could result in a "course correction" was non-confirmity. Next thing we knew there were the hippies.

It all made sense at the time.

Russ (permanent GUEST)