Poll: Old or modern cities?

[SilentCom]

What kind of big cities do you guys prefer? The old and historical cities with a lot of character and excellent architecture or the modern metropolis type cities with skyscrapers and energetic city life?

Personally, I like the old, historical cities better because of their old-world feel and character. Plus, I like brickwork in buildings over tall skyscrapers.

 

[Anarchemitis]

It could be modern as in "Modern" built-by-contemporary-architects-downtown-Houston or "Modern" built-by-the-Soviet-government-souless-apartments-in-Novgorod.
How much character is in a given place is also dependent on the culture that surrounds it, not just its age.

Personally I elect to live in more calm locales, even away from the city better than urban areas in general. But I seldom have that luxury.

 

[Trivun]

How about a mix? There's the city I live in, Leeds. It's a delightful blend of old buildings renovated and modified for modern use, and some really nice modern architecture. My favourite club (The Cockpit) is under the railway arches, and there's some really nice countryside and scenery (such as Kirkstall Abbey) within cycling distance of my front door. Not to mention the university, which I attend, and the awesome design of some of the older buildings (such as the Parkinson Building, which is one of the buildings that used to be featured in the opening crawl for the BBC 10 o'Clock News).

 

[DefinitelyPsychotic]

Modern, particularly Art Deco (that is at least somewhat recent right?).

 

[Totenkopf]

I like the old, historical cities. I simply love the beautiful and anachronistic designs.
Like in a goddamn fairy tale.
Modern cities can be nice too, though. But they fail most of the time.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I like modern cities when they have that old world look.

 

[Souplex]

New York is the best. It's a blend of old and new.
Well actually, it depends on your definition of old...

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

Probably old, because for some reason the really old buildings still look good, where in 30 years with alot of our 'modern' buildings we'll all be thinking, eww remember when we thought that looked good?

 

[Stammer]

I prefer modern, but that's probably got a lot to do with the fact that my city is really old-looking.

 

[AvsJoe]

Well, the most beautiful city I have ever visited was Montreal because the Old Montreal district was gorgeous. I prefer looking at or being in older cities, but in the end I would much rather live in a newer one.

 

[trollnystan]

I voted for old, historical because I prefer the aesthetics and feel to them. I do enjoy the comforts of modern buildings of course, but the style is usually so sterile and impersonal. Old cities feel more alive and welcoming. Love 'em =)

My dream is to build a beautiful old style house with all the modern creature comforts. Not to mention going as green as possible. If I'm gonna dream, why not dream big?

 

[trollnystan]

I voted for old, historical because I prefer the aesthetics and feel to them. I do enjoy the comforts of modern buildings of course, but the style is usually so sterile and impersonal. Old cities feel more alive and welcoming. Love 'em =)

My dream is to build a beautiful old style house with all the modern creature comforts. Not to mention going as green as possible. If I'm gonna dream, why not dream big?

Is having a house of your design such a big dream in Sweden? I though you guys are rolling in cash.

I'm poorer than dirt. On the sick list and social welfare at the moment and it's about as fun as it sounds. So yeah, a bit of a pipe-dream. Not to mention there are rules about how your house looks from the outside depending on where you build it IIRC. For example, if I wanted to build a house that looks like:

Spoiler: this (only nicer 'cos yikes)

In an area with houses like this:

Spoiler: this

... then I might not be allowed to build it because it doesn't conform or blend with the other houses. Or if the neighbours complain loudly enough. This is true even out in the country side I think. And seeing as the house I posted had a third floor I'd have an even harder time getting it through.

I am by no means an expert on the subject though.

THE MORE YOU KNOW!

 

[twistedmic]

I used to live in a city that was more old than new, Norfolk Virgina. There was an old church in downtown Norfolk that had a cannon ball from the American Revolutionary war embedded in a wall (the wall had been rebuilt after the strike, with the ball wedged into the hole it had made).

 

[trollnystan]

Oh, I forgot about that. My parents also had to deal with these regulations recently when they were starting the construction of their house. They didn't really mind conforming, because the project wasn't nearly as different from other houses as the one you posted (It's a really cool house btw) but they had to change a few things like the color of the roof for example.

It is isn't it, just very run down poor thing. Always wanted a tower... *girlish sigh*

 

[Chemical Alia]

Old and historical. My favorite towns are my hometown Easton, PA and Heidelberg, Germany. I live in the Dallas metroplex now, and it feel completely stripped of charm and history. Nothing but strip malls and flat highways, depressing.

 

[Peteron]

Both can be fun and enjoyable. Old architecture is beautiful, but it has a depressingly lonely feeling to it, if that makes sense. Modern cities are much more lively and energetic.

 

[Bobbity]

Can't I like them both? I went to Paris and London late last year, and I adored them both, but I fucking love New York as well. I genuinely cannot decide :S

Okay, fine. If I had to choose, I'd go for vibrant and modern cities, but not by much.