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But now, with two kids and 18 consecutive years in New York City, the charm of my own fourth-floor walk-up and my city’s mediocre schnitzel may be wearing off—I think McMansions are friggin’ awesome.
And, as it turns out, more and more Americans are agreeing with me....
...To be honest, my previous disapproval, and perhaps the larger cultural dis on McMansions, was not just about suburban sprawl. It was some weird, sideways class warfare.
What I do not like is a large home squeezed into a small place. A home not in harmony with its surroundings. Cheap/artificial materials like foam/plastic crown molding. The most negatives I see are from people unable to afford one.
The thing is, what the author was showing, was their preference for North East U.S. homes. The type of home they envision, is not what most people in the country live in. Ranch style is all one story, and will have a front entry attached garage, and has been the choice of homes in much of the country since early 1900s. Spanish architecture popular in other areas, etc. What the author thinks all homes should look like, may be popular in certain areas of the country, but non existent in others.
Our home is a 3,700 sq. ft. 4 level home, which is the only one like it in our area. Living room soars 25 feet of window wall. Lots of moss rock inside and out. Fireplace is set in a 25 foot high moss rock wall area. People look at it and talk about it, none with the disdain shown by the author, and I have heard many compliments of the home, by people that did not know we lived in it. It sits on 5 acres with a 500 foot rail fence leading to it. Has a nice barn, and stable.
The author must really hate homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. If you do not know who he is, you would not know he was one of the most award winning, and most respected architects in the world, designing some of the most famous and most expensive homes in the world. Here are some of his most famous and most respected. From the comments by the author in the starting link, it shows how little real taste that he/she has. Wanting cheap North Eastern Cookie Cutter style homes, not the award winning homes by one of the world's most famous architects and loved by the people with real architectural taste, and the financial ability to own them.
A house is like art....... if you love it....... that is all that matters.
I think a house needs to fit into the community of houses surrounding it. The community, especially surrounding neighbors, should not be overwhelmed with a McMansion erected in their midst.
I think a house needs to fit into the community of houses surrounding it. The community, especially surrounding neighbors, should not be overwhelmed with a McMansion erected in their midst.
This is not always possible to do, in areas such as the Silicon Valley where there is a shortage of property to develop. In these situations, there is not much choice, but to find a lot in an area you like, buy the property for as much as a million dollars and tear it down to have a lot to build your dream home on. It is not what you want to do, it is what you have to do in areas without a lot of land available to build on.
The thing is, what the author was showing, was their preference for North East U.S. homes. The type of home they envision, is not what most people in the country live in. Ranch style is all one story, and will have a front entry attached garage, and has been the choice of homes in much of the country since early 1900s. Spanish architecture popular in other areas, etc. What the author thinks all homes should look like, may be popular in certain areas of the country, but non existent in others.
Our home is a 3,700 sq. ft. 4 level home, which is the only one like it in our area. Living room soars 25 feet of window wall. Lots of moss rock inside and out. Fireplace is set in a 25 foot high moss rock wall area. People look at it and talk about it, none with the disdain shown by the author, and I have heard many compliments of the home, by people that did not know we lived in it. It sits on 5 acres with a 500 foot rail fence leading to it. Has a nice barn, and stable.
The author must really hate homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. If you do not know who he is, you would not know he was one of the most award winning, and most respected architects in the world, designing some of the most famous and most expensive homes in the world. Here are some of his most famous and most respected. From the comments by the author in the starting link, it shows how little real taste that he/she has. Wanting cheap North Eastern Cookie Cutter style homes, not the award winning homes by one of the world's most famous architects and loved by the people with real architectural taste, and the financial ability to own them.
Frank Lloyd Wright did not design McMansions. Did the OP even mention Frank Lloyd Wright?? If so, I missed it.
Size is not the only factor in determining what makes a McMansion a McMansion. Lack of consistency, tossing in one design element after another without rhyme nor reason, ostentation, often out of scale to the lot and out of character to the neighborhood - all these are found in McMansions. It's not just about size.
And not all ranch houses have attached, front-facing garages. The one I once owned does not. Instead,it has a separate garage which is faced with the same fieldstone that covers the house.
The author must really hate homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. If you do not know who he is, you would not know he was one of the most award winning, and most respected architects in the world, designing some of the most famous and most expensive homes in the world. Here are some of his most famous and most respected. From the comments by the author in the starting link, it shows how little real taste that he/she has. Wanting cheap North Eastern Cookie Cutter style homes, not the award winning homes by one of the world's most famous architects and loved by the people with real architectural taste, and the financial ability to own them.
Oh boy, appeal to Wright as if that was the be all in architecture. Frankly I think he was over-rated. His work might have been beautiful "art" but not often functional or economical. The "lost" plan home just built on Florida Southern campus fits the art over function and economy well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CraigCreek
Size is not the only factor in determining what makes a McMansion a McMansion. Lack of consistency, tossing in one design element after another without rhyme nor reason, ostentation, often out of scale to the lot and out of character to the neighborhood - all these are found in McMansions. It's not just about size..
Thank you. I think that is key to a McMansion vs a well designed home. Elements that just don't work. Taken out of context and thrown on because, well, just because. Keystones over a plain, rectangular, vinyl window where structurally they don't belong. Angled bays right beside square bays such that one bay looks into the other in the same room. Rooms that are 10 feet square with 28 feet vaulted ceilings. Brick, stone, vinyl, stucco mixed almost at random. Basically take all the features from architectural magazines and stick them together like legos.
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