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Hi, I’m Asha, and I live in a big, noisy city. Everywhere I look, there are buildings. Tall ones, short ones, new ones, and really old ones. People are always building here. There are so many people moving to the city, so houses are getting smaller, and buildings are growing taller.

In my neighborhood, some old houses have been torn down, and they’re building tall apartment blocks made of concrete. These new buildings can fit a lot of people, but they get really hot in the summer because they don’t have enough trees or open spaces nearby. Some people say pre-fabricated concrete houses are faster and cheaper to build, but I wonder: Are they really the best for us?

Sometimes I think about the older buildings in my city, with their thick stone walls and shaded verandas. They stay cooler, even on hot days, but people don’t seem to care about them anymore.

• Should we be saving the old buildings or building everything new?

Our options in cities:

• Pre-Fabricated Concrete Houses: Quick and cheap but can be hot and lack character.
• High-Rise Apartments: Save space by building upwards but can feel crowded and disconnected from nature.
• Renovating Old Buildings: Keeps charm and can be eco-friendly but takes time and money.

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Hi, I’m Ravi, and I live in a quiet village surrounded by fields and trees. Here, most houses are small and made of mud, bamboo, or thatch. They’re cool in the summer and warm in the winter, but they can fall apart in heavy rain.

Some people are starting to build brick or concrete houses because they last longer and don’t need as much repair. But I wonder, should we be bulldozing all the old mud houses just because they’re old? My grandfather’s house is made of mud bricks, and with a little care, it’s still strong and comfortable.

Sometimes I dream about building something new, but I don’t want to lose the tradition of using local materials. What if we can mix the old ways with the new? A house made of both mud and brick could be strong and still good for the planet.

What do you think? Should we focus on building new houses, keeping old ones, or a mix of both? Why?

Our options in Villages:

• Mud or Thatch Houses: Affordable and cool but need regular upkeep.
• Brick or Concrete Houses: Stronger and longer-lasting but can be more expensive.
• Renovating Old Mud Houses: Eco-friendly and preserves tradition but takes effort.

Asha: In the city, people say tall buildings save space, but it feels like there’s no room to breathe. What about your village? Do you keep old houses? Ravi: Some do, but many want concrete houses now. Do you think your city needs all those tall buildings? Asha: I’m not sure. I wonder if it’s better to renovate old buildings instead of tearing them down. Ravi: Maybe we both need to find a balance, keeping the best of the old while using the new wisely.