6 ms·

> changing our architectural practices to support multigenerational households This is true about so many things. Infrastructure and architecture around us lea

by screye 4y ago

> changing our architectural practices to support multigenerational households This is true about so many things. Infrastructure and architecture around us lead to a majority of emergent properties in the way society interacts. In the 3rd world, it is fairly common to purchase an apartment for your parents in the same neighborhood as where you settle in. The free daycare itself makes up for the mortgage and the old people sitting by benches on evenings serve as communal protection while the kids play seemingly unsupervised.

1270018080 4y ago
At this point it's a topic beaten to death, and it's edgy to say, but I really believe the suburb/highway model 95% of America is stuck with is the root of all evil. Whether people voluntarily seek it out or they're trapped in it. Every bad thing I can think of seems to stem from it in one way or another. Physical, mental, financial, environmental, and political health all considered.
- screye 4y ago
  > topic beaten to death, and it's edgy to say It's sad that that when a big enough part of a population reaches the obvious conclusion, it is considered edgy because the magnitude of the damage that was caused is so large, and is finally recognized as such. > suburb/highway model 95% of America is stuck with is the root of all evil There are very few mono-causal absolutes that I actually agree with and this is one of them.
- dsfyu404ed 4y ago
  >but I really believe the suburb/highway model 95% of America is stuck with is the root of all evil. I think you're mistaking "occasionally challenged" for edgy. People who believe what you believe are dominant on HN. You're basically just bemoaning that you're not so dominant that you never see criticism.
  - frankus 4y ago
    One common objection I hear is that there's clearly a revealed preference for that kind of housing in North America, because it's still relatively in-demand. But by that standard there's also a revealed preference for airline food on airliners.
    - haroldp 4y ago
      Excellent analogy. And pretty much no one who advocates for allowing more flexible housing wants to forbid suburban single family detached homes. Buy that, if that's what you want. Just stop limiting everyone else to that.
      - bcrosby95 4y ago
        Some I've discussed this issue with eventually reveal that they like the status quo because it gives them more options for their preference, others' preferences be damned.
        haroldp 4y ago
        Of course. The core idea behind zoning is limiting other's preferences. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village_of_Euclid_v._Ambler_Realty_Co https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village_of_Euclid_v._Ambler_Re....
- colechristensen 4y ago
  People want safety and space and cities didn’t provide that so those who could left.
Saigonauticon 4y ago
In my limited experience (I immigrated to a developing country in Asia 10 years ago) it's more common to inherit your sole home from your parents, and live with them in it your whole lives. It's not unusual to have three or four families living in a 20 square meter home -- although these properties thankfully usually have 2-3 floors. So you're never alone, ever -- for better and worse. Wealth here is primarily inherited, not earned. It is uncommon for people to afford to buy an apartment over the course of their lives. In my city at least, an OK apartment is around USD 200k-300k (not even close to the city center). An OK salary is about USD 500 a month. The free daycare aspect is absolutely critical so that both parents can work, and maybe bring in enough to send their children to university. It's not uncommon for one or both parents to additionally have a side gig evenings or weekends. Later on, maybe when one parent can afford to work less, you care for your parents. Also as an additional thing, there's always a family shrine. You still cook meals for ancestors. You leave a place for them at special occasions, and celebrate their death anniversary. It's not unusual for someone to stand up in front of the shrine and talk to them for a long period. I'm not a spiritual person, but that frequent shared connection to the past, and its interaction with grief, is interesting. Anyway, I thought you would appreciate that small slice of life here.

by screye 4y ago

1270018080 4y ago

At this point it's a topic beaten to death, and it's edgy to say, but I really believe the suburb/highway model 95% of America is stuck with is the root of all evil. Whether people voluntarily seek it out or they're trapped in it. Every bad thing I can think of seems to stem from it in one way or another. Physical, mental, financial, environmental, and political health all considered.

screye 4y ago
> topic beaten to death, and it's edgy to say It's sad that that when a big enough part of a population reaches the obvious conclusion, it is considered edgy because the magnitude of the damage that was caused is so large, and is finally recognized as such. > suburb/highway model 95% of America is stuck with is the root of all evil There are very few mono-causal absolutes that I actually agree with and this is one of them.
dsfyu404ed 4y ago
>but I really believe the suburb/highway model 95% of America is stuck with is the root of all evil. I think you're mistaking "occasionally challenged" for edgy. People who believe what you believe are dominant on HN. You're basically just bemoaning that you're not so dominant that you never see criticism.
- frankus 4y ago
  One common objection I hear is that there's clearly a revealed preference for that kind of housing in North America, because it's still relatively in-demand. But by that standard there's also a revealed preference for airline food on airliners.
  - haroldp 4y ago
    Excellent analogy. And pretty much no one who advocates for allowing more flexible housing wants to forbid suburban single family detached homes. Buy that, if that's what you want. Just stop limiting everyone else to that.
    - bcrosby95 4y ago
      Some I've discussed this issue with eventually reveal that they like the status quo because it gives them more options for their preference, others' preferences be damned.
      - haroldp 4y ago
        Of course. The core idea behind zoning is limiting other's preferences. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village_of_Euclid_v._Ambler_Realty_Co https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village_of_Euclid_v._Ambler_Re....
colechristensen 4y ago
People want safety and space and cities didn’t provide that so those who could left.

Saigonauticon 4y ago

In my limited experience (I immigrated to a developing country in Asia 10 years ago) it's more common to inherit your sole home from your parents, and live with them in it your whole lives. It's not unusual to have three or four families living in a 20 square meter home -- although these properties thankfully usually have 2-3 floors. So you're never alone, ever -- for better and worse. Wealth here is primarily inherited, not earned. It is uncommon for people to afford to buy an apartment over the course of their lives. In my city at least, an OK apartment is around USD 200k-300k (not even close to the city center). An OK salary is about USD 500 a month. The free daycare aspect is absolutely critical so that both parents can work, and maybe bring in enough to send their children to university. It's not uncommon for one or both parents to additionally have a side gig evenings or weekends. Later on, maybe when one parent can afford to work less, you care for your parents. Also as an additional thing, there's always a family shrine. You still cook meals for ancestors. You leave a place for them at special occasions, and celebrate their death anniversary. It's not unusual for someone to stand up in front of the shrine and talk to them for a long period. I'm not a spiritual person, but that frequent shared connection to the past, and its interaction with grief, is interesting. Anyway, I thought you would appreciate that small slice of life here.