Some people believe that buildings in a residential area should be built in a unified style, while others believe that individuals have the right to build houses according to their own taste. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

There are opposing views on residential areas – some individuals believe that houses should be built in a unified way, whereas others opine that houses should be built according to individual taste. Although both opinions have valid arguments, I agree with the latter.

On the one hand, unified residential buildings would result in a more harmonious society. That is, each family would have the same type of house regardless of their income, background or education resulting in a communal outlook. For example, suburban houses in Melbourne, such as those in Werribee and Glen Waverly, are built identically to avoid conflict and promote social interactions among neighbours as they feel more comfortable with each other as there is no disparity amongst the neighbourhood. As a result, such suburbs are known to be more close-knit, where all residents know one another.

• harmonious:

adj. 和谐的，和睦的

e.g.: Let’s try our best to make this world harmonious, balanced and better for all.

• communal:

adj. 公共的，公有的

e.g.: An international peacekeeping force will likely be needed to ensure against reprisals and continuing communal violence.

• regardless of：

不管，不顾

e.g.: The fields give high and stable yields regardless of climatic circumstances.

• identically:

adv. 同一地地，完全相同地

e.g.: Decimals of the same value in the partitioning key are treated identically, even if their scale and precision differ.

• interaction:

n. 相互作用，相互影响

e.g.: Price is determined through the interaction of demand and supply.

• disparity:

n. 不同，不一致, a difference between two or more things, especially an unfair one.

e.g.: We are talking about the profound wealth disparity between women of colour and their white peers.

• close-knit:

紧密结合

e.g.: He was much loved and will be sorely missed by everyone in our close knit team.

However, residential houses that are built according to individual tastes can be more personalised to suit individual needs, comfort and preferences. In other words, a person and his family have to live in a house for a long time, and thus it is logical for them to have a house that caters their requirements and desires. For instance, a family with kids could incorporate a big backyard for a playhouse or a swimming pool by making the rooms a bit smaller when constructing their home which would be perfect for their growing children as well as for future recreation, even though their neighbours don’t.

• cater:

Vt. 投合，迎合，满足需要，提供饮食及服务

e.g.: Stay up-to-date on LinkedIn, social media, and all sites that cater to your specific career niche.

• incorporate:

Vt. 包含，把 (某事物) 并入

e.g.: The two companies will incorporate the best features from each site.

In conclusion, it is believed that housing areas should be developed in a unified manner, however I agree with the opposite view thatindividuals should have the freedom of building their homes according to their preferences.