[Druchii]

There probably isn't anything wrong with them, you're most probably right.

As for modernisation, those houses look exactly like the huge row of terraced house where i used to live, nothing wrong with them really. Few grand for central heating and double glazing and they'd be upto "modern" standards easily. Much cheaper than tearing them down and rebuilding them.

To be honest, i tend to prefer some older housing these days, it just feels like it has more character opposed to the newer developments which are just too plain, and, well... What's the word. Gah. Uniform?