I don’t know if you should worry about pretension. I have had similar thoughts and feelings, and I mostly chalk it up to a lack of economic activity.

This is not just in response to the condition of the built environment but for emptiness of the streets as well - there are plenty of people that live in this or that neighborhood, but it seems everyone is inside on their devices. I love content just as much as the next guy, but if we (Western core perspective) had a healthier society and a healthier economy, I think that you would see more people out doing something productive (either economically or socially).