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“Ellie’s Houses”: how housing in the US and Europe differs from Russian
We deal with it together with the architect.
In Russia, a house is a fortress, they hold on to it with all their might. But in America it is easy to part with housing. In Italy, for example, they have a peculiar attitude to decor, while in Germany they focus on ergonomics. What is the difference between houses in different countries, says the architect Yevgeny Koblov.
“Ellie’s Houses”
The specificity of architecture is determined by the climate. In southern European countries, for example, hot dry summers, mild winters, warm and comfortable off-season. Locals spend a lot of time outside the home: meeting with friends, walking, playing sports. Therefore, the interior decoration of the home is of secondary importance.
I traveled around Italy and stayed in an alpine village. I rented housing from a local family. Leaving the house every morning, I saw the following picture: the hostess of the house, a lady of elegant age, sitting comfortably in a hammock under the gentle rays of the sun, reading a book and enjoying the weather. This explains why, in our opinion, the interiors of middle-class European dwellings, including Italy, are rather austere. When there are stunning mountains, beautiful buildings, bright sun around, no additional decorations are needed.
And in America, for example, there are frequent tornadoes and hurricanes that sweep away everything in their path. It seems that it is more expedient to build monolithic or brick houses – more durable and stable. But it is economically unprofitable, since during restoration they cost 10 times more than frame ones. That is why there are so many “Ellie’s houses” in the States (like from the fairy tale “The Wizard of the Emerald City”) – a structure of boards sheathed with plywood and covered with siding on top. The main advantage is the affordable price and high speed of construction (from a month).
America gives priority to “Ellie’s houses”
You can’t forbid living in comfort
The resources and content of communications in different countries cost differently. In Germany, collected and specially treated rainwater is used for domestic needs and sewerage. It turns out to be much more profitable than using tap water. The dishes are washed under a small stream and in no case do they leave water flowing from the tap just like that.
In Russia, such solid houses are due to complex heating systems. This affects the thickness of the walls and foundations. At the same time, utilities in our country are cheaper than in the West, and energy efficient technologies are unprofitable and therefore not popular. It turns out that the high cost of building houses in Russia is offset by their relatively profitable maintenance.
In America, the tradition of building frame houses allows you to change your place of residence without any problems. Having received, for example, a lucrative job offer, people can easily leave their old house and move into a new one. Real estate is rented and sold fully finished and furnished, so there is no need to transport all your property.
In Russia, they try to make an apartment more “monumental” and comfortable, they invest in it as an investment
Nest decoration
We are characterized by great individualism. Russians strive to give the maximum of “their” handwriting to the space in which they live. If there is an opportunity to alter something for yourself, they will definitely use it. The house is viewed as an investment, that is, in the long term, we expect to sell it profitably. Therefore, it is extremely important to surround yourself with beauty and comfort, as well as to ensure the durability of the interior and communications.
In Europe, on the contrary, social needs, the space outside the home, are primarily taken into account.