In the past, buildings often reflected the culture of a society but today   all modern buildings look alike and cities throughout the world are becoming   more and more similar.

　　What do you think is the reason for this, and is it a good thing or a bad   thing?

　　Model Answer:

　　Every city has its architectural character, but the similarities between   cities are more obvious these days than in the past. In my opinion, one reason   for this is the high price of land.

　　In most large cities, land is scarce and consequently it is very valuable.   This has led to the construction of tall buildings which occupy only a small   area of land while providing lots of floor space where people can live or work.   Buildings of this type are made of concrete and steel and can be built   comparatively quickly using prefabricated materials. They do not use local   materials, such as stone, timber or brick, which used to give cities their   individual character. In consequence many cities. now look very much the same   and you might not know whether you were in Brisbane, Bangkok or Berlin when you   are on the street.

　　While I realise that we cannot stand in the way of progress, I believe that   cities should try to keep some individuality. For example, in Paris it is   prohibited to build very tall buildings in the centre of the city, as this would   spoil the overall appearance of the skyline. Other cities have chosen to design   unique buildings to ensure they look different. The twin towers in Kuala Lumpur   or the Opera House in Sydney are examples of this approach, and I agree with   this kind of initiative.

　　All in all, although it is regrettable that modem cities look similar, I   tend to feel that this is unavoidable. However, it can be argued that, even if   the buildings are similar, cities will maintain their own character as a result   of cultural diversity, the terrain and the climate, which ultimately determine   how people live.