Aren’t heritage buildings our pride?

Do we really care for the historical buildings or to retain the elegances of historic edifices? This crucial question sometimes does (and is bound to) crop up since throughout the world these historical and significant buildings are sacrificed to make way for modernization. There are, in fact, untold specimens that proclaim how sheer vandalism to set modern and ugly buildings at the cost of marvelous yet old artifacts continues.

Take for instance Senate House of the Calcutta University. This marvelous building or sublime work of art, which was once regarded as one of the finest gifts of the British Empire in the colonial India, came into being to provide accommodation for meetings of the Senate, the chamber of the Vice-Chancellor, office of the Registrar, examination rooms and lecture halls.

However the Centenary of Calcutta University (1957-58) brought the ultimate disaster and the entire building was demolished without regard.

This is not any isolated incident since they are going in full momentum and one of them is the Garland H. Jones Building. The Garland H. Jones Building is situated at Raleigh, which is the capital of the state of North Carolina in US and the seat of Wake County. What is the main significance of this building? Well, according to the discretion of experts, it is a striking landmark of Raleigh and also one of the finest examples of Modernist architecture left in downtown city. Whatever is the significance, it should be kept in mind, that this five-story office building is going to be demolished from the next February. The news is certainly tragic and also enough to make one dejected but it is a stark reality.

But it is, indeed, remarkable that there is no such hue and cry so far and it seems that the plan of making a $215 million justice center (through demolition) will get completed without more ado. This is not expected at all. We can still recall the public outrage following the demolition of the old social services building at Davie and McDowell streets, another example of Modernist office building, in 1999. Why are people silent now? Are we getting insensitive?