As the architects say on their website, the concept of a Single Hauz is meant to fill a domicile "gap," allowing a single person to own a home that isn't meant for a family. It recognizes that marriage and family are no longer "the only way of life" and attempts to artistically meet the need of the single, contemporary "Western Man."
Meeting needs is all well and good. I know I'd at least try living in one given the chance. I just cringe a bit when Western Man is idealized as the free, detached bachelor; a monad who has no need of others--least of all a wife and children--and strives to float, even in his home, above it all. Does that mean everyone interested in a Single Hauz wants to be this kind of Nietzschean "overman"? No. But it's just somewhat troubling that we often look in that direction as an ideal. We Americans have it ingrained in us at an early stage that there's something perfect about being beholden to no one, utterly free, an able to determine everything on one's own. E pluribis, unum. Luckily, reality has a way of neutering such ideas.
I'm not saying that the architects are necessarily encouraging that worldview, either. Frankly, I just think it would be fun to have a Single Hauz. It's like an adult treehouse. While floating a few feet over streets and other homes, it's nevertheless planted firmly in the ground. It looks like a place where you could get your bearings, rest, and take a deep breath of fresh air before ultimately descending the stairs and re-entering the hustle-and-bustle of daily life.
I'm also pretty sure the design is merely "concept art," as I haven't found any pictures online of built, extant Single Hauzes, but a man can dream...
Yeah, I think that that is probably photoshopped, as the only thing I could think of when seeing that was "That will NEVER pass a safety inspection." Especially after seeing the huge hole in my floor that has been filled with 400 lbs of concrete to support a single beam for the roof...
ReplyDeleteAnd, I've tried to find your blog before, I just couldn't remember the name... :(
Well, coming off of an architecture firm's website, I figured that the actual images were CG mock-ups in neato locales. I was just surprised no one had actually tried to build one. Wind would definitely be a problem...but, heck, I'd even be interested if it had TWO beams supporting it. It's just frickin' cool.
ReplyDeletethis is really funny, because i was just talking to my friends about how i used to be obsessed with campers and small spaces in general.....maybe that man cave thing really does have something to do with it....although i would never go inside one of those houses; too high
ReplyDeleteAlright, Sieg, I'm obsessed with campers too. Road trip next summer? (Or whenever we can get enough money to do it...)
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