As an urban planner the discussion of housing in communities is very important to me. It is important for cities to be able to offer a variety of housing types to accommodate varying lifestyles and income levels. However, some people have taken their housing choices to the extreme creating some of the largest and smallest homes in existence.
Last year, a documentary movie entitled, "
The Queen of Versailles," came out which portrays the journey of a billionaire, married couple on the quest to build the largest home in America inspired by the Palace of Versailles in France. The husband is a 70 something man who owns one of the largest real-estate and time share companies in the world, Westgate Resorts. The wife is a 40 something, former New York beauty queen. The plans for the home included 90,000 square feet, 2 tennis courts, 30 bathrooms, a full-sized baseball field, and 10 kitchens! While construction for the home was underway, the Recession hit and soon the couple's dream home went into foreclosure, mind you, the home is valued at around $100 million. I didn't watch the full documentary so I am not sure how it happened but the couple kept their palace in their possession and are still working on constructing it. What does all of this have to do with sustainable construction? EVERYTHING! Is it even morally right to build a home that large? The home as planned is larger than the White House and equivalent to almost double the size of two Publix grocery stores combined.I highly doubt sustainable materials are being used and the home is only planned for the couple and their eight children. Do 10 people really need all that space? The worst part of the story is that this home is being built near the Orlando, Florida area. [Insert joke about Florida development here]
 |
| Courtesy of Lauren Greenfield/ INSTITUTE |
On the opposite end of the spectrum there has been a trending shift to
tiny homes. People are choosing to shed their consumerist lives and live with only their basic necessities in homes that range in size from 65 square feet to 450 square feet, give or take. Some of these homes have their foundations on the land like a normal single family dwelling. However, most are on trailers so that the homeowners can live a carefree, sustainable life wherever their heart desires. People are choosing to live in these homes due to the decreased costs associated with them. For instance, a mortgage free life and extremely low heating and cooling costs. The homes are available in many styles ranging from a log cabin feel to very modern. Is this the type of lifestyle Americans are headed towards in the future? Or, will we always have that dream of the large home with the white Pickett fence in our minds? And, if tiny homes become the new norm, how will this impact family sizes? Tiny homes means less space, typically only enough room for two people to live comfortably. Will this type of lifestyle slow down the ever exploding population of our country? Or, can we, as responsible stewards of our environment, find a middle-ground that doesn't involve such extreme housing measures?
 |
| Courtesy of Tumbleweed Tiny House Co. |
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteCool Blog. I didn't realize that Americans were able to part ways with their cushy and over-indulgent lives. I'm a true advocate in changing our goals and hearts as people before we can change our behavior and maintain it. In Phil 4:11 of the Bible, Paul says "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content." What a message! Having gratitude for our basic necessities is a must. However, our culture continues to propel the image that people with less are unhappy. Gratitude for life and the things that sustain us goes a long way in helping us change our ideas about the good life! Thank God for His word!