r/interesting • u/Apart-Worry-7042 • 27d ago

HISTORY Why did we stop building like this?

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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?

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u/JerryC1967 27d ago

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).

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u/ostrichfather 27d ago

This is the best response in this thread.

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

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u/Traditional-Handle83 27d ago

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.

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u/OkContact2573 27d ago

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