I think it is about balance.
Traditional buildings are memories and should be preserved but should not be the bases of massive urbanization.
Modernity could be also associated with a country's own cultures. As in the case of China, we tend do build traditional gardens in the new areas to decrease the density and bring about a sense of harmony.
As in the case provided by
@GS Zhou , Karamay, a completely newly built city for the nearby oil fields.
View attachment 426414
In more established cities, old city quarter usually performs as the cultural centre in the very centre of a city.
In my hometown:
View attachment 426415
Historic Canal dating back to 1500 years ago in Hangzhou's city centre
View attachment 426423
City centre of Chengdu in Western China
View attachment 426424
City centre of Kunming in Western China
View attachment 426425
Chongqing, Western China
CBD and old buildings
View attachment 426426
New buildings could also reflect history.
High-speed railway stations in China
View attachment 426417
Suzhou Station
View attachment 426419 View attachment 426421 View attachment 426420
And those cities that are doing extremely well in regard to combining modern techniques with ancient architecture are those wealthy and developed cities.
This point proves economy and development is not the killer of traditional cultures.
Poverty and underdevelopment is!
Urbanisation from my perspectives, if well designed, promotes our own cultures and history.