Book Review: Geography of Home
Geography of Home by Akiko Busch, published by Princeton Architectural Press, 2003. (Amazon)
Subtitled "writings on where we live", this book collects Busch's series written for Metropolis about five years ago. The thirteen short essays address different parts and rooms of the American house, from the front door to the laundry room. The author traces the changes in lifestyle that have impacted the idea and plan of the house, though she notes that as much as things change, people are unwilling to part with those symbolic pieces that mean home. The front door is the perfect example. No longer used by many people - opting for the more direct route from the garage to the kitchen or mud room - it is still a strong part of house design, existing more as symbol than function. But the author does not limit herself to this take; across the essays various viewpoints are delivered to the reader, perhaps making them more aware of what surrounds them each and every day. Ultimately it is a snapshot of the American home at the end of the 20th century. As the title suggests, the geography of the home is an ever-evolving thing, embodying part of the past, ourselves, and (in some ways) our wishes for the future.
Subtitled "writings on where we live", this book collects Busch's series written for Metropolis about five years ago. The thirteen short essays address different parts and rooms of the American house, from the front door to the laundry room. The author traces the changes in lifestyle that have impacted the idea and plan of the house, though she notes that as much as things change, people are unwilling to part with those symbolic pieces that mean home. The front door is the perfect example. No longer used by many people - opting for the more direct route from the garage to the kitchen or mud room - it is still a strong part of house design, existing more as symbol than function. But the author does not limit herself to this take; across the essays various viewpoints are delivered to the reader, perhaps making them more aware of what surrounds them each and every day. Ultimately it is a snapshot of the American home at the end of the 20th century. As the title suggests, the geography of the home is an ever-evolving thing, embodying part of the past, ourselves, and (in some ways) our wishes for the future.
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