143 January 1, 2020 128. Old Buildings versus New Buildings Some people think it is important to construct new buildings rather than wasting money on maintaining old ones. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? The skylines of cities around the world are changing rapidly as more modern building are being constructed, replacing older buildings, which require more money to renovate and maintain. Personally I feel that preserving older buildings is often a waste of money for various reasons. There is no denying that it is worthwhile keeping certain old buildings. Many castles and mansions, for example, around the world are of great historical interest and they deserve to be preserved, but in some cases old buildings are often overrated, while many new buildings are undervalued. Instead of money being spent on improving them, many old buildings should have been demolished, because they are not fit for purpose. Many people like them for nostalgic reasons, and there is no doubt that they are evocative of another era, but they are in many instances not very practical to work or live in. On the other hand, new buildings are generally cheaper to build and maintain than keeping old buildings. The costs involved in the latter arise because it is difficult sometimes to find the correct materials for renovation. It is also time-consuming to modernise them while at the same timekeeping the original features. Some people dislike modem construction methods because they use a lot of glass and steel rather than old-fashioned materials such as bricks. Personally, I find certain modern skylines in cities like Doha in Qatar, Shanghai and New York, impressive and beautiful. Cities which don’t have modem buildings can seem rather melancholic and not as dazzling as some people feel. As we have seen, the construction of modern buildings is more worthwhile than maintaining older ones. In recent years, the lack of such soft skills as communication and working in teams has grown. This development is the result of various factors, which can have a negative impact on both employees and employers. A deficiency in soft skills is caused by various factors such as the current emphasis on computer-based work.
