Why do we live in boxes? The question had never crossed my mind before. Until I came across this thread on an architectural dicussion board:

"I cannot stress how important it is to have people like Thom Mayne because otherwise we'd be living in rectangular boxes (which most of the times are not functionally or formally organic, and I wonder why no one criticises those) and thinking thats the way where our children should be taught, civilians are being judged, food is served ... etc. No architect can give an definate answer as to how those spaces should be, but they (the ones who are not regressive) spend all their life contributing possible answers to those questions, and that is why I think they courage is admirable. "

To see the rest of this discussion click here:

Do you know why we live in boxes? I love to hear your views? My theory is that largely it's because we lack imagination and mistakenly believe that square houses are cheaper and more efficient to build. IF this were the case why didn't Eskimo's or African tribes people, and other low income groups, build boxes to live in?

We Call it Home: a history of State Housing in New Zealand
State houses in New Zealand subscribe to the box theory of pracitical design. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage iuntertook a history of State Housing in New Zealand. 'We Call it Home' was an online exhibition designed to get past tenants and suppliers of state houses to tell their state house stories. Visit the website for further information at
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/culture/state-housing-in-nz: and see if this shed's further insight. It's not that living in a box is necessarily a bad thing - let;s face it, much of the world's population is grateful just to have a roof over there heads. I just wonder if, given money is being spent in creating these box homes, living in something more organic (derived and inspired by nature) could be better.

research confirms that building organicially pays off check out this thread here

What do you think? Feel? Believe?

Here's what one organic architect believes:

“Non rectangular spaces are more life enhancing both inside and outside. But they are much harder to work with as enclosures of pace- harder but possible. The issue is not between rectangles and non-rectangles: why do something differently unless there is good reason? The issue is between living and lifeless forms and spaces, life-renewing and life sapping environments.”

Christopher Day, architect (designer Steiner Kindergarten in Wales)

I also learned that London's very iconic Gherkin (as it is affectionally known), designed by Foster and Partners was originally going to be a rectangular shape - why? Because all the office furniture had right angles and it would be easier to pack in more people! Says it all really. Thank goodness good design and the courage to break out of the box prevailed. The Gerkhin is London's first ecologically designed building! Well done!

Labels: architecture