by Cristina Nuta -

From time to time, a proposal to pull down a much-loved old building to make room for a factory or a new block of flats, raises a storm of angry protest. Buildings of national importance are relatively safe. Though even these are occasionally threatened, their reputation does protect them to some extent. It is the border-line cases that are always in danger: the dignified buildings of the past which may possess no real artistic or historic value, but which people have become sentimentally attached to and have grown to love. There is no point in calling such buildings ‘ugly’. The words ‘beautiful’ and ‘ugly’ are relative terms. A building with high ceilings and huge rooms may be less practical than the colourless block of offices that takes its place, but it often fits in well with its surroundings.

Those out to demolish old buildings often argue that a factory will bring prosperity to a town and provide employment for its people; a block of flats will improve living conditions, a new road will create better transport facilities. These arguments are true but somehow unconvincing. Countless quiet country villages have been spoilt by the addition of modern 'improvements' like huge traffic-signs or tall concrete lamps which shed a sickly yellow light. In the same way, buildings which are erected without any thought being given to their surroundings, become prominent landmarks which may change the character of a whole town. They are ugly because they are so out of place.

Nothing can change the look of a town or city so dramatically as the sudden appearance of a block of offices which towers above all the surrounding buildings. Before the arrival of this skyscraper, all the buildings in the city stood in special relationship to each other. The most imposing of them was probably the cathedral or the town hall followed by other public buildings. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the new arrival dwarfs everything in sight and even the most graceful and imposing existing buildings may no be so sadly, diminished as to seem slightly ridiculous beside the monster.

By demolishing buildings of bygone times, we wipe out every vestige of the past forever. No one would deny that there are many superb modern buildings which are truly representative of the very best architecture of our age. But these are rarely the utilitarian blocks which are to be found in many cities. The trouble is that every time a fine old building is destroyed, it is not necessarily replaced by an equally fine modern one. If the demolition of buildings is uncontrolled, a fine city is in danger of becoming nothing more than a concrete jungle.

Should We Demolish Fine Old Buildings Of No Real Artistic Or Historic Value To Make Room For Modern Constructions? written by Cristina Nuta for FamousWhy.com
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Should We Demolish Fine Old Buildings Of No Real Artistic Or Historic Value To Make Room For Modern Constructions? Image Source : alex4ever.de

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Tags: demolish, fine, old buildings, artistic, historic value, make, room, modern constructions

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Category: Entertainment  - ( Entertainment Archive)

Date Added: 03 October '09

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