IELTS Task 2: When designing a building, the most important factor is intended use of the building rather than its outward appearance. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Introduction :refer to the statement – many people
believe this. Disagree.
Paragraph :function is important. (1) shops – big
glass windows are ugly, but they are necessary to attract customers (2) housing
– high-rise apartments are ugly, but they are the only solution to provide
housing in city centres.
Paragraph :outward appearance can be combined with
function in some cases. (1) Sometimes it is not possible (e.g. multi-storey car
parks). (2) historic buildings show, however, that it is often possible to
combine function and beauty – eg. Paris.
Conclusion : in design, the function and appearance of
buildings is equally important.
Essay:
Many people consider that the function of a
building should be the primary consideration at the design stage. The
appearance of the building from the outside is a relatively unimportant factor.
While a building must serve its intended purpose, I disagree that this is
necessarily the most important factor in the design.
The intended purpose of a building is, of
course, very important. In terms of commercial design, most shop facades, for
example, have large glass windows, so that passers-by will be attracted by the
goods on display. This is essential for sales, although these shop fronts are
an eyesore, and do not blend in with the conservation of historic buildings of
which they often form an ugly part. From the perspective of housing design, the
population density in many cities is extremely high, and exorbitant rents are
charged for land. To make city living affordable, hideous high-rise buildings
are the only solution to provide apartments for urban dwellers.
The design of buildings to serve a specific
function, however, does not mean we should ignore their aesthetic qualities. In
some countries, there has been a recent revival of interest in the
architectural design of buildings. Although the construction of ugly
utilitarian structures like multi-storey car parks is an inevitable consequence
of modem living, new or renovated houses, shops and offices can combine
pleasing design with their useful function. The centres of cities like Paris
show that it is possible for historic buildings to possess character, which is
not incompatible with their commercial purposes as stores, offices and
apartments.
In conclusion, I believe that the outward
appearance is just as important for planners and architects to consider as the
function of buildings.
287 words.
Vocabulary :
Housing and Architecture :
• shop facades
Meaning: the front of shops.
Example: The shop facades, with their enormous
glass windows and attractive displays, entice shoppers to go in and browse.
• to be an eyesore
Meaning: to be ugly to look at.
Example: The modem high-rise apartment blocks in
the city centre are an eyesore.
• to blend in with
Meaning: to be similar to or to match the things around.
Example: The new hotel does not blend in with the
historic buildings which surround it.
• high-rise buildings
Meaning: tall, modern buildings, such as offices or apartments.
Example: The centre of my city is now full of
high-rise buildings, mainly offices and apartments, and the city has lost its
old charm.
• multi-storey
Meaning: a large building with several floors.
Example: In my opinion, multi-storey car parks
are ugly, noisy places, while at night they are deserted and dangerous.
Traditional versus Modern :
• to conserve historic buildings
Meaning: to protect important old buildings and prevent them from being damaged
or destroyed.
Example: It is important to conserve historic
buildings because of their beauty and cultural significance.
• a revival of interest in
Meaning: the process of something becoming more popular again.
Example: There has recently been a revival of
interest in traditional music and songs.
• an inevitable consequence
Meaning: certain to happen and unable to be avoided or prevented.
Example: Some people believe that the loss of
traditional cultures is an inevitable consequence of globalization.
• to possess character
Meaning: to have an interesting or unusual quality.
Example: Whereas most modem buildings look very
similar, the architecture that has survived from the past possesses character.
• to be incompatible with
Meaning: not able to exist along with another thing because of basic
differences. Example: The way of life of indigenous peoples is incompatible
with modem cultures.
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