"Soulless" buildings. Does anyone else hate hearing the word "soulless" in relation to buildings, development, etc? (apartments)

[Ha-Mez]

When people describe a building or a new development as "soulless", it's usually because they don't like it or it's too nice or it's not nice enough, or has corporate backers, or it's replacing something they liked, or because it's too much like everything else, or because it's too different from everything else, etc. Of course, it's a completely meaningless complaint.

Eventually, every new building becomes part of the city fabric. In Home Park, for example, there are old houses, new houses, houses built in the 20's, houses built in the 60's, houses built recently (or "McMansions"), strip malls, bike lanes, unpaved roads (seriously), apartments, etc. All the different houses add to the quirkiness of the neighborhood. And nothing is "soulless". Buildings are artificial things made of stuff. They are not spiritual beings, they do not have souls, and thus, they cannot be deprived of soul.

Therefore, new buildings and new developments should be welcomed to the neighborhood, and if they shouldn't be welcomed, let's use better arguments than calling a new building or development "soulless".