Youngblood's an architect who recently moved his family of four into the house they just built in Maine. He blogged about the construction and challenges of the modern project, which was inspired by the traditional form of a Native American longhouse. The Iroquois apparently lived twenty families to a house, which may have worked because they didn't have as much baby gear:
There's a difference between drawing, design and the take your pants off kind of living you do day to day. Where do we put our clothing? Where do we put the vacuum? How about books? Where should the bar of soap sleep it off? Why does the beautiful rainshower head function more like a misty morning? I find that designing affords freedom...line on paper lacks realism, it's all about composition, the layering of materials, walls meeting at 90 degrees. Now I'm a victim of my decision to 'cut costs' by not allowing for enough storage...not a single closet. I had an idea of where all of these things might live eventually, now I'm facing the reality of what it means to store things in the basement. Out of arms reach is quite inconvenient for things like your vacuum or...the 'diaper champ'. I'm not sure modernism allows room for things like diaper champs anyhow, but you get the idea. That's making it on the top 10 list of misgivings. [emphasis added]On the bright side, the Iroquois didn't have Ikea.There's a difference [longhouse via materialicio.us]
I applaud the discipline and intent behind what he's doing, but a house without closets is like pants without pockets. Sleek and clean, but would you wear them everyday?
[women do, apparently. something about patriarchal oppression and the male gaze, and not wanting to have lumpy hips from your car keys. -ed.]
But women carry purses. Perhaps he should add a garage with house access.