Everything about London is historic: the culture, the sites and the sights, the city and especially the buildings. So much of the city is very much classic -- sometimes crumbling, boarded up, or peeling, but it is a glimpse into the past, as evident by popular architecture walks that go on in the city (might have to do that soon). There is a HUGE amount of restoration and maintenance work going on, despite the "credit crunch/economic crisis/pre-recession." For example, you may remember my post on St. Pancras Station a while back (The photos were dark and dodgey, but I've made it a point to head over on a clear weekend day -- really a sight). Well, that monolithic palace-ish station has been undergoing an 800 million GBP redevelopment project.

And it's not uncommon to see many classical and old pieces of architecture being restored or renovated all around the city. It's like all of london is a museum, and the mayors and building managers and architects are the curators and restorers. Sure, there's some good examples of modern and post-modern and minimalist architecture here (which is all VERY easy to draw and create, apparently, in comparison to traditional styles). However, it really seems like the old stuff is always left standing or reconditioned or being reupholstered or something -- Like an architect is more of a janitor than a creator over here. Old buildings from flats to halls to churches are all ancient, and are either falling apart, taped/boarded up, or retrofitted at the first floor with the familiarity of modern shops and places of commerce and consumerism, as indicated in the photo above.