Should old buildings be preserved?
YES
- Once a historic building is gone, it is gone forever, but who knows what will be valued in the future?
- Preservation shows respect for those that came before us and those who will come after.
- Restoration is often cheaper than building new structures.
- They are an integral part of our heritage and history. Without them, we lose contact with our origins.
- Preserving them is good for the environment:
- Preserving a building is the ultimate in recycling and keeps construction materials out of the landfill.
- Many traditional building practices in historic buildings are “green”. (e.g. thick walls maintain interior temperatures and save energy).
- Constructing a building requires huge amounts of energy and could raise pollution levels.
- Tourism could be a lucrative source of revenue for every community, and many old buildings are real tourist magnets.
- The architectural style of many of these buildings is unique, and once they are gone, these styles could not be learnt by our architects.
- Some of them are aesthetically pleasing, adding to the beauty of our cities.
NO
- Most of them are unsafe and will eventually collapse, injuring and taking the life of many citizens.
- They are ugly and spoil our cityscape.
- In the modern world, land is valuable. If they are demolished,
- high-rise residential buildings could be built to accommodate many people and as a result solve housing problem. This would also prevent urban sprawl.
- huge shopping malls, office blocks, etc. could be constructed, which would create employment for many.
- modern amenities could be provided for citizens to make their life more comfortable and enjoyable.
- Many of them are empty and threaten the safety of our society:
- They are the best place for addicts to do drug.
- Many other illegal activities could happen in such buildings.
- They can be a great hideout for criminals and fugitives.
- The cost of maintenance and renovation could be huge.
- They could be home to many disease- spreading creatures.
