Building Gypsy RoseHave I Truly Gone Mad?
There is only one success—to be able
to spend your own life in your own way.
-Christopher Morley
I have never been one to adhere to trends. To a large degree, my concerns for the overall health of the planet have led me down a different path than the one followed by those who make choices based on what's currently popular.
Among the more disturbing trends in our consumer-oriented society is the growth of the family home - a trend that has brought us the "McMansion". Since 1950, the average size of a new home being built in this country has more than doubled, while at the same time, the average size of the family has fallen by over 25 percent. What that means is that, in just over 50 years, the number of square feet per person in an average American home has more than tripled. And remember, that's on average. When looking at the McMansion end of the spectrum, those numbers become even more astounding.
Now, consider this. A McMansion can require the cutting of 600 trees to provide enough lumber to build. To make matters worse, all those enormous, complicated rooflines and other features that are designed to enhance "curb appeal", can mean that up to 50 percent of the lumber is used to enclose unusable space. No thank you.
I wanted to build something different, at a much smaller scale. After starting the Gypsy Rose project, my research led me to the many, many others who are thinking the same thoughts. For those who may be looking at this tiny dwelling (the one shown above - not the one below) and wondering, “What the . . .?”, I’ve put together a few links that may help others to understand the path I’m on.
First, a look at what I am NOT building:
National Public Radio presented an interesting look at the trend in American homes during a segment of its "All Things Considered" program last July. Follow the link below to read (or listen to) the story.
Behind the Ever-Expanding American Dream House - NPR, All Things Considered, July 4, 2006
The Case for Small:
Even the incorporation of environmentally friendly method, material, or technology cannot make the McMansion a "green" home. By virtue of size alone, a 4,000 square foot home can never be "green". If one wants to truly reduce the ecological footprint of a dwelling, reducing its size is the primary prerequisite.
Shrinking Down The House (Time Magazine)
Move Over McMansions, Microhouses Are On The Rise (Wall Street Journal)