Older style homes

Different people like different things. Also, I imagine some countries have better and more comfortable traditional architecture than others.

Modern homes can be more comfortable to live in - better energy efficiency so they are easy to heat and cool, better light, more convenient storage, good-sized rooms.

Around 50 years ago house architecture in many countries started to become quite practical - new materials etc - but also quite ugly. Personally I think houses from the 1960s are about the ugliest, at least in this country. They are like boxes. But they are so much more comfortable than earlier houses! And very modern houses, they even more comfortable and easy to take care of.

But we love living in our house, which is 100 years old. It is built of beautiful wood. It has withstood 100 years of storms and earthquakes in our city - it can flex with the strain. It has lovely details around the doors and windows and porch, and we've got bare, polished wooden floors and high ceilings.

There are lots of drawbacks - it needs painting every 10-15 years, it is draughty and difficult to insulate and heat. There are hardly any cupboards for storage and the bathroom and kitchen are too small. But we love it.