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I don't understand why houses are so ugly and cheap made? I mean, in Europe we use brick and stones to build a house, here they are made out of wood. I was told once it's because it's cheaper to make them out of wood + we have lots of trees. But it seems to me that houses here are more expensive compared to Greece (where i'm from), for example a million dollar home here is not worth that much in Greece. And why not use clay tile roofs? And another thing that bugs me the most, why do they put the garage door in the front? Shouldn't there be the entrance or a large window in the front of the house? Why do they build the houses with entrance on the side and a huge garage door (sometimes 2) in the front? And not only that, a lot of houses that i see have a tree right in front of the entrance, it's like they are doing it on purpose to not show any house other than the garage! Is it a privacy issue? Seems like million dollar homes are built this way, is it that hard to make cheaper homes look nice? And what's the deal with tiny doors? In my country most entrance doors are double, made out of nice wood with glass, here's it's just a wooden door. Is there a reason homes are built this way or do americans have no sense of style?
hellaslover,
By your name and (lack of) reasoning you sound young. Some responses.
why houses are so ugly
>> You must be kidding. The vast majority of housing in Europe is God-awful, tiny, and made without imagination or style. You need to compare apples with apples. Upper end homes in the US can more than hold their own.
and cheap made? I mean, in Europe we use brick and stones to build a house, here they are made out of wood.
>> Another uninformed observation. In certain parts of California, there are earthquakes. Wood is more flexible and can handle tensile stress. For this reason, earthquakes in the US kill very few while everywhere else they kill thousands.
>> Brick is cheap, amigo. New homes of stone in Europe are very expensive as they are here as well.
>> Most middle class homes in Europe are flats or townhomes with shared walls. Most Americans home their own proper SFDs.
>> If you asking why each US home is not solid granite, may I suggest a course in basic economics?
But it seems to me that houses here are more expensive compared to Greece (where i'm from), for example a million dollar home here is not worth that much in Greece.
>> Ayy. Not a university graduate i see. The primary expense of homes is set by the market. Material costs of homes is a small part of the expense. More expensive is labour. In Greece, where the market economy is well down the value chain, labour costs are cheap. In California, construction workers make more than engineers in Greece!
And why not use clay tile roofs?
>> Yikes!! Economics 101 again. Laying tile is labour-intensive, hence expensive.
>> You see in Europe, there is next to no labour mobility. Yours is a rigid economy. Homes are family homes to be passed on through the generations via tax codes which favor heredity. For this reason, class mobility is next to impossible for most Europeans. You, like other Europeans, come to the US for opportunity. But I digress. If you are building for the ages, you have more incentive to spend more money on attributes that are no longer economically sensible.
>> By the way, there are plenty of tiled homes in California, though most are probably out of your price range. My goodness, drive around a bit!
And another thing that bugs me the most, why do they put the garage door in the front?
>> Ayy! You see, in densely populated areas, the house built over the garage creates a smaller footprint. The same class person in Europe does not even have a house or is mamoni. Go higher in wealth, and yes, the garage is off to the side. You do not get out much, do you?
Shouldn't there be the entrance or a large window in the front of the house? Why do they build the houses with entrance on the side and a huge garage door (sometimes 2) in the front?
Jesu Christo, how old are you? See previous answers.
And not only that, a lot of houses that i see have a tree right in front of the entrance, it's like they are doing it on purpose to not show any house other than the garage!
>> Trees good, ignorance bad. US houses are to enjoy. I nice shade tree in front is always pleasant for the home owner.
And what's the deal with tiny doors? In my country most entrance doors are double, made out of nice wood with glass, here's it's just a wooden door.
>> I am now guessing a 22-24 year old Mamoni, welching off of papa's ouzo business.
>> Ye mihijito, the are houses with large doors made of the finest wood and wrought iron...but it is just that you cannot afford them!
Is there a reason homes are built this way or do americans have no sense of style?
>> LOL!! Americans are pragmatic, upwardly mobile and innovative. Hence even with a financial crisis originating in our own country, we will fare better than Europe.
>> The problem here is you are failing to make the appropriate comparisons. You seem to be failing Econ 101 and Finance 101 at the same time! No surprise really, given the wretched nature of the Greek economy.
>> Typical European professional only hopes to own their own land (not inherited), but few do. Scratch that. Brits and Germans are buying up the best of your coasts and living high on the hog with their pension $$--and these are the dumb ones.
>> Wealthy Europeans maintain their family homes (cheap to do so) but send their kids abroad to develop their careers (few new opportunities at home).
>> In the US, tax codes are written for economic dynamism. Economic disincentives to have a family home to be passed through the generations. Private financing of university. Higher opportunity cost for shirking and mamoni.
>> End result is that young Americans starting out, seek convenience and mobility in their choice over housing stock. Wealthy Americans live several notches above that and, given your post, well above your ability to understand.
>> An American buys a hope in Greece to chill. there is little economy to support the lifestyle we are accustomed to.
A final point, Europeans are among the most ignorant people I know. Anybody who has lived in Europe as I have can attest. Racist. Ignorant.Terribly unworldly. And clearly, undereducated. And see a post from a Greek, the most backward and poorest of the EU countries? Are you serious? LOL!! Please...
S
P.S. You gotta love the complaining and illusions toward the old country. You see, once cannot cherry pick residence and all the cool features unless one has the cash. Clearly you do not!
Garage doors are in front because so many Americans have cars, and for the past 50-60 years most new home developments were built around the car. A lot of Americans don't walk anywhere, so there is no need for the front door of the house to be anything dramatic. The door for the car is therefore the primary entrance. A lot of this comes from the ideas of a fellow named Frank Lloyd Wright, whose "Usonian" houses were built on large lots around a front-mounted garage.
They're ugly because they are mass-produced as cheaply as possible, in order to build them as quickly as possible. From the era after World War II, generic suburban homes became a disposable consumer item. Architecture was very much secondary to ease of construction and square footage of space.
Land prices in the United States vary very, very, very widely--a million dollars will buy you a huge mansion in some parts of the country, or a tiny shack in other parts.
Houses are built of wood because it's cheaper and faster and lighter, and we still have a lot of timber. Forests in Europe were pretty much all cut down centuries ago, and many European nations began traditions of building in brick or stone that still continue today. Here, most homes that look like they are made of brick are actually a brick veneer on top of a wooden frame.
If you want to see more beautiful American neighborhoods, look at the older neighborhoods--1930 or earlier. You'll see the examples of American architecture before the car was universal and before suburbs were quite so pre-fabricated. The garages, if present at all, are in back or in the alley, and the doors and front porches are far more prominent, on streets meant more for walking than driving. You'll even see some clay tile, especially in California, where styles like Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial copied Mexican examples. But even then, most of them are built of wood, simply because it was cheap and available. There are a few older brick buildings (we had a nearby brickyard) but not very many compared to wood.
Garage doors are in front because so many Americans have cars, and for the past 50-60 years most new home developments were built around the car. A lot of Americans don't walk anywhere, so there is no need for the front door of the house to be anything dramatic. The door for the car is therefore the primary entrance. A lot of this comes from the ideas of a fellow named Frank Lloyd Wright, whose "Usonian" houses were built on large lots around a front-mounted garage.
Did you read "The Disappearing City?" It was a very cool book. It talked about all of the problems that cities were having and why in such a big country it was silly to push everyone into tenement slums.
He was one of the heros of in terms of creating the middle class in this country after the war. Spread out cities, get the site rents down, so housing is affordible for most people to buy. If it weren't for people like him arguing for spreading out the cities, we would all be stuck in crowded places like Manhattan and land ownership would still be concentrated in the hands of a very few.
Modernly look at the places that were built out before "The Disappearing City", notice in these places like SF or NYC how few people actually own there own homes.
I don't think it is appropriate for you to come here from Greece, and criticize our architecture and our home building techniques. No one is forcing you to buy a home in this country.
Last edited by jguillot; 11-17-2008 at 09:43 PM..
Reason: ..
I don't think it is appropriate for you to come here from Greece, and criticize our architecture and our home building techniques. No one is forcing you to buy a home in this country.
Sandpointian,
I usually try to be nice to people but i will talk to you the way you talk to me. You guessed right that i'm young and my guess is that you are one of those ignorant, stupid americans, you know, the kind that voted for Bush twice? First of all let me tell you why being a Greek is better than being an American (in most cases anyway). You are talking about architecture and how badly the houses are built in Greece, let me remind you that great architecture comes from ancient Greece. When ancient greeks were building the parthenon, americans were living in caves, or no wait..america didn't even exist back then did it? As greeks we are proud of what Greece is known for worldwide, we came up with democracy, mathematics, language, architecture, philosophy, art, the olympic games and a lot lot lot more the rest of the world is enjoying today. Take a look at the ancient greek temples and tell me how that's not phenomenal architecture even in todays standards, and keep in mind those were built in the B.C years without the use of any kind of techonology. It was all built with great greek minds and geometry WE came up with. When americans invented meat, greeks already had cholesterol. I will let you figure out the meaning of that yourself
So think before you say Greek architecture sucks and America's is the best. As an american what are you proud of? what is america's national food? hot dogs and beer? are you kidding me? America won't even know what fashion and style means if it wasn't for the europeans. Take a look at fashion, all the brand name clothing is european (mostly italian), the best cars are made in europe and japan, the best cuisine is everything BUT american (unless you consider mcdonalds american cuisine).
Let me tell you something you probably know but don't want to believe: The way america works is a big joke to the rest of the world and that's the reason everyone hates America (for example the war in iraq, let me guess you believe America went to iraq to free the people right? Out of all the countries in need America chose to "help" Iraq that happens to have the oil, what a coincidence). I will admit that America is succesfull and wealthy but that's because America consists of people from all over the world who contribute to this country, you walk down the street and you are not sure if you are in china, mexico or america, how proud does that make you feel? America is a big business country with no history, culture and no society. People come to america to take advantage of the opportunities, without immigrants america would be a big nothing.
Now back on the topic
I don't think the reason houses are made out of wood is to resist earthquakes. 90% of the houses are made of wood so that can't be the reason. Its simply because building with wood is faster and cheaper, construction companies put no effort into designing nice houses, they build houses in mass production for a quick profit, they use plastic pipes (i have friends who work in construction so i know) and roofs that need to be fixed every 20-30 years, but they do put some nice touches inside the house such as granite counters so it will look nice and dumb people like you will buy em.
And the fact that they put the huge garage door in the front and no windows on the house to save space is BS. I can make tens of designs on the same foot print and make the house look nicer using the same materials. In Greece even middle class people hire professionals to design the house of their dreams and make it last for hundreds of years without the stairs squeacking after 20 years you know why? because we use real building materials and not make it out of wood and then put a tree in the front because we love trees, ironic huh?
As far as Greece's economy i will agree that it sucks. We have the wrong people in important government positions and that's why we don't move forward. Greece is not letting it's own people progress and become rich and as a result Greece as a country remains poor. But that doesn't mean greeks are stupid. Most greeks that come to America succeed and those who stay in Greece have the potential to have a better future but can't.
And you said europeans are the most ignorant, uneducated and racist? no comment to that...i will just laugh
but let me tell you why americans are the way you describe europeans. Americans kick their children out once they turn 18, and sue them over a couple hundred dollars. Who is ignorant and heartless now? America had slavery until the 19th century and even today blue collared people would never live in a neighborhood with blacks, who is the racist now? If americans were not racist then why all this fuss for a black president?
You don't know what you are talking about. You are the joke that the rest of the world is talking about.
p.s you guys are right, i don't have to buy a house here. But i do have the right to criticize the ways homes are built (and i didn't say anything bad either) and open a thread to discuss it. If you get offended by me criticizing your building techniques then get over it
I don't understand why houses are so ugly and cheap made? I mean, in Europe we use brick and stones to build a house, here they are made out of wood. I was told once it's because it's cheaper to make them out of wood + we have lots of trees. But it seems to me that houses here are more expensive compared to Greece (where i'm from), for example a million dollar home here is not worth that much in Greece. And why not use clay tile roofs? And another thing that bugs me the most, why do they put the garage door in the front? Shouldn't there be the entrance or a large window in the front of the house? Why do they build the houses with entrance on the side and a huge garage door (sometimes 2) in the front? And not only that, a lot of houses that i see have a tree right in front of the entrance, it's like they are doing it on purpose to not show any house other than the garage! Is it a privacy issue? Seems like million dollar homes are built this way, is it that hard to make cheaper homes look nice? And what's the deal with tiny doors? In my country most entrance doors are double, made out of nice wood with glass, here's it's just a wooden door. Is there a reason homes are built this way or do americans have no sense of style?
There are houses everywhere with the attributes that you cite as positives. You need to open your eyes and look around.
Sandpointian,
I usually try to be nice to people but i will talk to you the way you talk to me. You guessed right that i'm young and my guess is that you are one of those ignorant, stupid americans, you know, the kind that voted for Bush twice? First of all let me tell you why being a Greek is better than being an American (in most cases anyway). You are talking about architecture and how badly the houses are built in Greece, let me remind you that great architecture comes from ancient Greece. When ancient greeks were building the parthenon, americans were living in caves, or no wait..america didn't even exist back then did it? As greeks we are proud of what Greece is known for worldwide, we came up with democracy, mathematics, language, architecture, philosophy, art, the olympic games and a lot lot lot more the rest of the world is enjoying today. Take a look at the ancient greek temples and tell me how that's not phenomenal architecture even in todays standards, and keep in mind those were built in the B.C years without the use of any kind of techonology. It was all built with great greek minds and geometry WE came up with. When americans invented meat, greeks already had cholesterol. I will let you figure out the meaning of that yourself
So think before you say Greek architecture sucks and America's is the best. As an american what are you proud of? what is america's national food? hot dogs and beer? are you kidding me? America won't even know what fashion and style means if it wasn't for the europeans. Take a look at fashion, all the brand name clothing is european (mostly italian), the best cars are made in europe and japan, the best cuisine is everything BUT american (unless you consider mcdonalds american cuisine).
Let me tell you something you probably know but don't want to believe: The way america works is a big joke to the rest of the world and that's the reason everyone hates America (for example the war in iraq, let me guess you believe America went to iraq to free the people right? Out of all the countries in need America chose to "help" Iraq that happens to have the oil, what a coincidence). I will admit that America is succesfull and wealthy but that's because America consists of people from all over the world who contribute to this country, you walk down the street and you are not sure if you are in china, mexico or america, how proud does that make you feel? America is a big business country with no history, culture and no society. People come to america to take advantage of the opportunities, without immigrants america would be a big nothing.
Now back on the topic
I don't think the reason houses are made out of wood is to resist earthquakes. 90% of the houses are made of wood so that can't be the reason. Its simply because building with wood is faster and cheaper, construction companies put no effort into designing nice houses, they build houses in mass production for a quick profit, they use plastic pipes (i have friends who work in construction so i know) and roofs that need to be fixed every 20-30 years, but they do put some nice touches inside the house such as granite counters so it will look nice and dumb people like you will buy em.
And the fact that they put the huge garage door in the front and no windows on the house to save space is BS. I can make tens of designs on the same foot print and make the house look nicer using the same materials. In Greece even middle class people hire professionals to design the house of their dreams and make it last for hundreds of years without the stairs squeacking after 20 years you know why? because we use real building materials and not make it out of wood and then put a tree in the front because we love trees, ironic huh?
As far as Greece's economy i will agree that it sucks. We have the wrong people in important government positions and that's why we don't move forward. Greece is not letting it's own people progress and become rich and as a result Greece as a country remains poor. But that doesn't mean greeks are stupid. Most greeks that come to America succeed and those who stay in Greece have the potential to have a better future but can't.
And you said europeans are the most ignorant, uneducated and racist? no comment to that...i will just laugh
but let me tell you why americans are the way you describe europeans. Americans kick their children out once they turn 18, and sue them over a couple hundred dollars. Who is ignorant and heartless now? America had slavery until the 19th century and even today blue collared people would never live in a neighborhood with blacks, who is the racist now? If americans were not racist then why all this fuss for a black president?
You don't know what you are talking about. You are the joke that the rest of the world is talking about.
Wow. Sensitive. First you attack American residential architecture and then you launch on attacking America as a whole. What's your motive?
Americans build cheap houses so they canburn down, fall down, and be blown away. They do this as a make work project. They have to keep replacing them. If things were made to last a 1000 years, like you guys do, we'd never have to replace them and unemployment would skyrocket. That's why your economy is so bad. You build thing too well.
Every year Hurricanes destroy Florida and every year they rebuild it only to see it blown away again.
Every year California burns and they rebuild it only to see it burn again the next year.
Every year Tornados blown homes away and they rebuild it only to see them blown away again the next year.
Every year floods destroy homes and they rebuild them only to see them flooded again within years.
It's a brilliant employment creating plan.
It's the America dream, man.
And face it, if God didn't put our oil under Iraqi sand we would've never invaded that *****hole.
Iraq could've just said, okay, take our oil and go, but no, they wanted to play cowboys and Iraqis.
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