Old vs. New
[ Old streetscape at 17th and Spring in the Central District ]
[ New streetscape in the Central District ]
[ Old apartment on Capitol Hill ]
[ New apartment at 23rd and Jackson in the Central District ]
This isn’t about nostalgia for old buildings. The old streetscape reaches out to the passersby, while the new turns its back. The old building had balconies that were shared by all the residents on a floor, while the new has individual balconies for each unit.
These differences may seem subtle, and they certainly don’t apply universally to new and old, but I see them as reflections of a society that is losing its sense of community. And it’s this same lack of connection with the community that is at the root of why so many newer buildings seem to lack the sole and pride found in older buildings.
People who are connected to and value their community aren’t inclined to build schlock and run.