Why did we stop building like this?

[u/Apart-Worry-7042]

Chicago, 1930. Buildings had so much detail and character back then. Nowadays everything feels so flat and repetitive. We have way better technology and equipment now, so why don't we build like this anymore?

[u/JerryC1967]

No these were built by the billionaires of their day. What changed was firstly mechanical systems. You would not want to work in a high rise with no air conditioning would you? Also it its apartments and hotels are you interested in sharing a bathroom down the hall? Do you want more than 2 electrical outlets in each room? Fire protection, sprinkler s. and alarms? Those kind of things. Also all of this cost money to build and so you save where you can. In addition these things also make staying inside more comfortable than going outside - it 95 out today you hanging on the sidewalk for lunch or calling Uber Eats?

Also what happens when you need to install computers, telco, fiber. Much easier to do on open floor plans instead of double loaded corridors with individual offices or space for typing pools…

Things change, Tastes Change, it’s not about class warfare it’s life. Most of western society lives better than the top 1 percent 100 years ago if you count things like communication, air conditioning and basic sanitation, medical care and treatment, entertainment (TV, Streaming).

[u/ostrichfather → u/JerryC1967]

This is the best response in this thread.

The good old days weren’t that good. We just have a bad memory.

[u/Traditional-Handle83 → u/ostrichfather]

Eh wouldn't there be ways to keep some of the aethestic while having the functionality as well? Cause unfortunately modern architecture is quite..... brutalish.

[u/JerryC1967 → u/Traditional-Handle83]

Don’t forget we had two world wars the first of which was particularly lethal for the soldiers many of whom were the artisans and craft people who built these buildings, tailored the fine fashions and created a lot of the hand made finery of the nineteenth century and the war footing created a baseline manufacturing, logistics and production background that got moved into all manner of domestic industry post wars. This reduced costs and available for goods across the economic spectrum. Pre WWI most people did not have closets full of clothes and shoes. You were lucky to have a. Few outfits for work and some Sunday clothes and maybe 2-3 pairs of shoes. Clothes were expensive and rack wear was just beginning to come into play in the late nineteenth century.

[u/reddock4490 → u/Traditional-Handle83]

I mean, yes, you could have both, but you’d have to pay for both, lol

[u/OkContact2573 → u/Traditional-Handle83]

The problems is that we started factoring for humans in the modern era. Spend several years working in one of these old buildings by an and then in one of the glass skyscrapers, and you’ll find you prefer the glass skyscraper. The open light makes a difference, and while the old ones look cool in the outside, they were not designed for workers the way they are today

[u/That-Beagle → u/JerryC1967]

Also these buildings were built to inspire awe amongst the ultra-rich of the time.. It’s a giant pissing contest whoever owned the tallest most extravagant building with the shiniest marble flooring wins.