In Class Reflection: Garden Atriums

 In Class Reflection: Garden Atriums

The visitors that came into class on the 16th of April brought with them some interesting reflections about the aesthetics of modern houses and their effect on human mentality. Both Stu and Trina stated that the number one reason that people were interested in their property at the Garden Atriums was because the houses were beautiful, not sustainability, not the community, and not anything that I would have assumed. It brings up that question- why are our houses so ugly today? They don’t have to be- it’s not like it’s impractical architecture or it’s entirely too expensive. When driving through the suburbs and new housing developments, my first thought isn’t “ how beautiful”- it’s “how depressing”. Modern houses look like they are designed to depress, and I’m not sure why that is.

Not to turn this reflection into a conspiracy blog, but I feel like a lot of things in Modern American Society are designed to make us sicker (whether intentional or not is a different debate). Fresh food is more expensive and in short supply, our working culture doesn’t allow for breaks in stress and much exposure to sunlight, and our houses are literal drab boxes that don’t cultivate an atmosphere of light and energy.

I recently moved out of my parent’s house that was built in the 1980’s, and now rent the second floor apartment in a century old house in downtown Phoebus. What amazes me is just how much more energy my new place cultivates. Of course I’m in a different stage of my life, but the way the house was built feels less stagnant. It’s definitely more beautiful, and funnily enough, it’s more sustainable anyways because it was built to account for the lack of A/C and heat that houses have today. Why don’t we build that way anymore?

Madeline Wells

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