> why did this happen? manufactured obsolescence after the war, buildings were increasingly being designed to be cheap and written off in <50 years. there was also the modernist movement who heavily influenced architecture. during the war, corporations became very powerful because taxes were flowing towards war goods. after the war, these corporations adapted to domestic goods.  the building industry intentionally started pushing steel reinforced concrete because it ensured that the concrete would not last 75 years. concrete on its own can last for centuries, but not with steel inside of it.  the building industrialists knew that they would make more money if the buildings they built would be obsolete quicker. this is not a new concept, it happened in all other industries as well.  the result though is that the building industry now accounts for almost 40% of emissions on earth and that our buildings looks incredibly ugly. because why would you spend time on ornaments or beauty if the goal is to tear it down in 50 years anyway.  it's just a cashgrab. it's cheap. it's meant to enslave us. and that's why buildings look demoralising.
Belgium