Most times 'facadism' is not an architectural choice, is the only way to get a permit to renovate a building. In case of doubt, 'gatekeepers' will always leave

Most times 'facadism' is not an architectural choice, is the only way to get a permit to renovate a building. In case of doubt, 'gatekeepers' will always leave it as it is. And 'facadism' is not that new. In some English cities, around 1800, it was common to get a land plot with an already built facade. It worked fairly well as a way to keep unity while allowing fragmented private iniciative.