If what the Union of Concerned Scientists says is true, i.e., that housing ranks “third among destructive human enterprises, just after transportation and agriculture,” then we in Canada and the US should look more closely at the size and fuel efficiency of our homes and sustainability level of typical home construction.
I recently read in LHSP that humorist Andy Rooney, “who quipped that the addition was America’s great contribution to the history of architecture, said he knew folks who had hired a contractor to subtract part of their house.”
Good one, Andy.
Here in London, Ontario, I think the average home owner will endure a few more years of high fuel prices before that idea ever comes to mind. We love our homes, additions, gardens and backyards.
But because of the struggling North American economy and higher fuel prices, ‘house porn’ - it's everywhere, it's everywhere - may be getting a little harder to look at for a growing number of people.
["Which culture is best - big or small?": photos by GH]
When I first came across the term in LHSP, a recent example in the ‘HOMES’ section of the local paper sprang to mind. The front page proclaimed ‘The ultimate backyard’. (June 25, London Free Press).
I thought, oh, really? And I put the article by Pat Currie about the ultimate backyard beside my computer. I refer to it now.
P. Currie writes:
Carmine G.’s backyard retreat has a lean but solid masculine look.
“It’s very linear,” he says.
It’s many other things as well. It’s luxurious. (‘Visitors to the backyard of Carmine and Diane G. could be forgiven if they think they’re in a Mediterranean resort.’) And it’s huge.
["Gord's 96 sq. ft. ultimate porch, newspaper and beer."]
Though the retreat/resort is described as cozy, most average Joes (and Gords) would feel out of place, maybe even depressed and discouraged.
Currie writes:
It’s wedged into a tightly compact area about 21 metres wide and only 13.5 metres deep...
Cozy? Compact?
Do you know how big 21 m. by 13.5 m. is? I’ll do the math for you. The area equals 283.5 square metres, or over 3,000 sq. ft. The cozy backyard retreat (“I wanted a private place where I can... sit down with a drink... read the newspaper or a book.” Carmine) is three times the size of my house (including my 96 sq. ft. front porch, the place where I often sit with a cold beer and my paper).
Now, I want Carmine and his family (wife, two kids) to enjoy their retreat/resort immensely (with emphasis on ‘immense’), and I perfectly understand why he shows it off to others, “just to show clients what is possible” when they are planning their own sanctuaries. After all, money makes the world go ‘round and big is still better until the lights go out.
For many, however, this form of ‘house porn’ (I think this is house porn, if I’m off base please let me know) doesn’t bring much satisfaction.
In fact, it highlights - in the brightest of colours - a lot that is wrong with the way North Americans view their corner of the planet.
For starters, three thousand square feet is cozy and compact?
Though staycations are growing in popularity (for reasons related to fuel costs, slow economy, lost jobs, etc.), is a backyard retreat costing $100,000 or more what the average Londoner or North American should be shooting for?
House porn. Will it disappear if we just close our eyes?
Not likely. It sells papers. And magazines.
The culture of big has us in its grasp. And the culture of medium or small or under our means will have to become just as strong or as tempting before many will make the shift.
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What might cause the shift in our lifetime?
Please click here to read more about the culture of big.
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