In terms of building I remember hearing how in the distant past (anything before the last 200 years or so) the buildings that survived to this day have just use

In terms of building I remember hearing how in the distant past (anything before the last 200 years or so) the buildings that survived to this day have just used way too much materials in a way that would seen as wasteful today (e.g. double as much stone as was needed because they couldn't calculate it as precisely as we can today). Would you be willing to pay double for your new home to make it last 300 years instead of 100?