For more than 20 years, architect and author Witold Rybczynski has focused on home and lifestyle of ordinary people. His books cover centuries of regular life, from "at home: a short history of thought," from 1986, the year in which he reaches back through the years to explain the evolution of the modern House, recently "the last harvest," about the community new home in suburban Philadelphia.
In "home," Rybczynski connects the change in homes are developing ideas about the place of humans in society. In 1600 most of the inhabitants of European cities saw little difference between the public and private spheres, and houses are often filled with extended family, friends and business. Over time, however, the Dutch intellectuals have developed new concepts of privacy, which slowly filtered out to the general population. 1800 to treat them at home as a private space for family members with specific areas dedicated to getting visitors came, most urban residents across Northern Europe.
This evolution was accompanied by the gradual emergence and refinement of material goods that we associate with the House and home, including furniture, dishes, utensils and fireplaces with smokeless fireplaces. Rooms also have specific functions, and the rich got a room on their own.
Rybczynski also turned his attention to myself in my autobiographical two Polish grandfathers. "born in Scotland during World War II, he was a child of Polish immigrants displaced persons. He grew up speaking Polish and English and 10 years of age moved with his family in French speaking Canada. He was described as "casual" and Canadian because his family urged him to continue with the hands-on, "accidental architect". He is currently a Professor of urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania and writes for Slate.com, which is owned by Washington Post Co., as well as for other publications.
In "the most beautiful house in the world," published in 1989, Rybczynski taps into the experience, to announce that the most beautiful House is designed by the famous architect, but the one you build for yourself. And he said that a small and humble buildings as worthy of serious consideration as Gothic cathedrals.
Rybczynski was the most beautiful house in the barn he built with the help of his wife and a few friends as a place to build a boat. When the project was finally completed after three years, he acknowledged that disarming candor that has disappeared, his ardor for shipbuilding. After he decided to convert the finished structure at home, he was shocked (!) and irritated (!) to discover that his wife insists on participating in the design of the place is that they will eventually call home.
When asked how the current turmoil Rybczynski housing market could affect new homes, he said, that could change the appearance, perhaps in ways that signal green owners. He noted that home matches always evolve: in more than 400 years of European settlement in North America at least 12 architectural styles have emerged, and some have been periodically recycled, including the currently popular Colonial, Victorian and craftsman. However, he thinks, there will be little change in the long-standing cultural traditions and beliefs that underlie many of the homeowners are Choosing to do, even though they now serve no practical purpose.
The most obvious anachronism in the modern home has a fireplace, a powerful symbol of what Rybczynski is calling "home as a sanctuary from the torment of the outside world." Even a modernist House that deviate from the conventional ideas of design houses in almost every path has a fireplace, he said, although it could be a stripped-down version without a fireplace.
Another anachronism is a front door and Foyer. They are used so rarely, that functions as a lobby staircase in most households. However, the front door and Foyer are must haves, creating a well-defined spot for welcoming visitors and the threshold between "here" and "out there." Although many homes now have a foyer near the garage where most family members enter the House, entrance will remain, Rybczynski said.
Similarly, he said, the collapse of the formal living and dining room have been predicted for years, but they also tap into the tradition of private public space, as well as custom have special areas that are used only once or twice a year.
Another common feature is the powder room, which is something of a hybrid. Later arriving in American homes, taps into normal private-Split, keeping visitors out of the bathrooms in the rooms are non-smoking. However, unlike a formal living and dining rooms, it is used on a regular basis in most households.
Rybczynski concluded that cultural traditions built into our homes changes slowly. Thus for example, the living and dining rooms often serve as home offices.
Similarly used to be stable at the edge of the homeowner's property was repositioned, multi-task, and be moved to the garage attached to the House. As a result, he said: "it's not pretty, but most people don't mind." and no matter how many streetscapes architects of Karp is dominated by garage door, Rybczynski said, this new version of the traditional stable is unlikely to disappear any time soon.
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