Topic 1 Introduction

The building wears out, deteriorates, the tastes and needs of its users change. These are factors that lead to the demolition or reconstruction of a building according to the current fashion.

There are many examples of buildings being demolished for various reasons. One of the most outrageous was the demolition of a building designed by the famous architect Victor Horta.

The Maison du Peuple/Volkshuis (the headquarters for the Belgian Workers’ Party) was demolished in 1965, despite an international protest petition by more than 700 architects.