I enjoy working with older buildings.  Often, buildings that have survived through a significant amount of time are the ones of better quality design, materials and craftsmanship; 'survival of the fittest'.  I like the detective work, the unending philosophical discussions on authenticity, and most of all, discovering the cultural connections through time with the original designers, builders and users that sets a context for the work we do now.  I believe an understanding of older buildings is important, not with an intention of replicating an earlier architecture, but because of the insights it gives into what we do in the present.