Maung Maung Myint Thein (University of Technology) - Practical IELTS Essays

Architects and Cities

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 are 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 realize 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 center 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 modern 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.

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Architecture and cities

Every city has its own architectural character. However, the similarities between major cities are more pronounced today than in the past. In my opinion, this is partly due to the high cost of land.

Land is scarce in most large cities, and because of this scarcity, land is very valuable. This has led to the construction of tall buildings that take up very little land but create a lot of floor space for people to live or work in. These types of buildings are made of concrete and steel, and they can be built relatively quickly from prefabricated materials. They do not use the materials that have given cities their distinctive character, such as stone, wood or brick. As a result, many cities look the same and when you walk down the street you can hardly tell whether you are in Brisbane, Bangkok or Berlin.

While I understand that we can't stop progress, I think cities should try to preserve some of their unique character. For example, in the center of Paris, very tall buildings are banned. This is because they are afraid that tall buildings will ruin the skyline.

Other cities have chosen to design unique buildings to stand out. The Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur or the Sydney Opera House are examples of this approach, and I admire such leadership.

Overall, I think it is unfortunate that modern cities are becoming more and more similar, but I think this is unavoidable. However, if the buildings are similar, cities will continue to maintain their own unique characteristics due to cultural diversity, topography, and ultimately the climate that determines how people live.