- Jan 12, 2012
- 27,286
- 113
One of the things that will quickly come to mind when considering the implications of riding out the storm is meeting our needs for shelter for a potentially long while, which leads to a number of questions that generally never see the point of serious consideration.
When we trace the history of dwelling construction throughout US history, we will find that there have been incremental changes over time in addition to there having been a split between rural and urban construction for most of that time. In the beginning, log shelters, some hewn and others not, were the rule because that was what was available within the means at hand to construct them. The product was generally drafty and of poor insulative value, but a hell of a lot better than sleeping under the stars, both in terms of personal comfort and keeping the forest creatures at a comfortable distance.
The traditional farmhouse as we think of it was generally large to accommodate large families, had high ceilings and a multiplicity of doors to facilitate ventilation. Insulation was generally lacking as the technology did not yet exist as we know it, and the only real cost was in effort cutting firewood, as opposed to paying for oil, gas, or electric heat. Another feature of this house was that the kitchen was generally a large working area suitable to accommodate the work necessary to prepare large meals as well as the table where the entire family could sit to eat. It generally had a basement, which often had a part set aside as a root cellar. The remainder would provide storage space for stored foods from the growing season, all kept at a cool temperature conducive to long-term storage.
As we moved away from self-sufficiency into an age where the farmer could raise a monocrop for cash and buy food cheaper than he could provide for himself and his family, we saw a trend toward less working space in the house. Improvements in technology, particularly in HVAC, saw other changes like the trend toward 8 foot ceilings and only two or three doors which existed for the sole purpose of serving as points of entry. Less kitchen capacity became necessary over time as food moved progressively more prepared before it left the store, and massive scale home canning became less prevalent. There was also a trend toward city amenities being introduced to the farm, like attached garages and creature comforts displacing the stalwart working spaces of a previous generation.
This leads us to the point where we are today, when the average home is dependent on outside energy, not suitable for large-scale self-sufficiency, and in general designed as a combination dormitory and recreation area rather than a working space of any type. I can see some of what we would call a 'Martha Stewart Revolution' in which the large working kitchen has been rediscovered to some extent, but that seems to be more a plaything for those with plenty of disposable cash than a standard for a family dwelling.
My two questions for you: How would you design a home if you were building from scratch today for general use employing any materials, methods, and paradigms from the mud hut to the contemporary home, including if you choose subterranean or partially subterranean construction, solar power, wind power, any type of windows which are presently available to buy, how would you build your home for general use? Feel free to take a forked approach for a 'realistic' case and an 'I just won the lottery' case. Second, how would you build under the same terms expecting this home to carry you through a SHTF without having electricity, gas, oil, or most any other outside goods or services?
When we trace the history of dwelling construction throughout US history, we will find that there have been incremental changes over time in addition to there having been a split between rural and urban construction for most of that time. In the beginning, log shelters, some hewn and others not, were the rule because that was what was available within the means at hand to construct them. The product was generally drafty and of poor insulative value, but a hell of a lot better than sleeping under the stars, both in terms of personal comfort and keeping the forest creatures at a comfortable distance.
The traditional farmhouse as we think of it was generally large to accommodate large families, had high ceilings and a multiplicity of doors to facilitate ventilation. Insulation was generally lacking as the technology did not yet exist as we know it, and the only real cost was in effort cutting firewood, as opposed to paying for oil, gas, or electric heat. Another feature of this house was that the kitchen was generally a large working area suitable to accommodate the work necessary to prepare large meals as well as the table where the entire family could sit to eat. It generally had a basement, which often had a part set aside as a root cellar. The remainder would provide storage space for stored foods from the growing season, all kept at a cool temperature conducive to long-term storage.
As we moved away from self-sufficiency into an age where the farmer could raise a monocrop for cash and buy food cheaper than he could provide for himself and his family, we saw a trend toward less working space in the house. Improvements in technology, particularly in HVAC, saw other changes like the trend toward 8 foot ceilings and only two or three doors which existed for the sole purpose of serving as points of entry. Less kitchen capacity became necessary over time as food moved progressively more prepared before it left the store, and massive scale home canning became less prevalent. There was also a trend toward city amenities being introduced to the farm, like attached garages and creature comforts displacing the stalwart working spaces of a previous generation.
This leads us to the point where we are today, when the average home is dependent on outside energy, not suitable for large-scale self-sufficiency, and in general designed as a combination dormitory and recreation area rather than a working space of any type. I can see some of what we would call a 'Martha Stewart Revolution' in which the large working kitchen has been rediscovered to some extent, but that seems to be more a plaything for those with plenty of disposable cash than a standard for a family dwelling.
My two questions for you: How would you design a home if you were building from scratch today for general use employing any materials, methods, and paradigms from the mud hut to the contemporary home, including if you choose subterranean or partially subterranean construction, solar power, wind power, any type of windows which are presently available to buy, how would you build your home for general use? Feel free to take a forked approach for a 'realistic' case and an 'I just won the lottery' case. Second, how would you build under the same terms expecting this home to carry you through a SHTF without having electricity, gas, oil, or most any other outside goods or services?
