4 ms·

> it's actually around the same size inside as the "modest" house and is therefore not a "mansion". I think there's an issue with this premise. McMansions are

> it's actually around the same size inside as the "modest" house and is therefore not a "mansion". I think there's an issue with this premise. McMansions are not 'mansions' and the criticism stems from that fact. They are too small for the architectural features they try to cram into their facades (balustrades, numerous columns, far too many windows of awkward sizes). Also because they are small, they try to maximize the use of space leading to the exterior looking very weird due to overlapping roofs so individual rooms can be as large and tall as possible.

crooked-v 3y ago
The article makes an interesting argument that the typical McMansion design, internally, can be distinguished by being more-or-less the same as a suburban home floor plan but inflated beyond all sense: an entry hallway turned into a grand foyer with a huge staircase (which, obviously, never actually gets used for anything, because it's still too small for actual parties), chains of special-purpose rooms stapled on to the same core set of rooms from the original nuclear family concept, access to the bedrooms stretched and stretched out as all the other spaces get bigger, etc. It strikes me as, conceptually, a distinct contrast to an 'average' Victorian home floor plan (which is probably the other closest thing to 'mansion' that an average person might think of living in), where even a very large home is going to have pretty tight and efficient layouts meant to maximize collective practical use of the space (especially with a large family or guests), rather than just giving a ton of square footage to each individual inhabitant.
nemo44x 3y ago
> far too many windows of awkward sizes Hmmm, actually it’s usually the case they have too few windows because windows (carpentry to house them and the actual window) is far more expensive than just having a wall. But you’re right, they’ll often have a window that is incoherent with the rest of the house and/or in a weird spot when viewing the home from outside.

crooked-v 3y ago

The article makes an interesting argument that the typical McMansion design, internally, can be distinguished by being more-or-less the same as a suburban home floor plan but inflated beyond all sense: an entry hallway turned into a grand foyer with a huge staircase (which, obviously, never actually gets used for anything, because it's still too small for actual parties), chains of special-purpose rooms stapled on to the same core set of rooms from the original nuclear family concept, access to the bedrooms stretched and stretched out as all the other spaces get bigger, etc. It strikes me as, conceptually, a distinct contrast to an 'average' Victorian home floor plan (which is probably the other closest thing to 'mansion' that an average person might think of living in), where even a very large home is going to have pretty tight and efficient layouts meant to maximize collective practical use of the space (especially with a large family or guests), rather than just giving a ton of square footage to each individual inhabitant.

nemo44x 3y ago

> far too many windows of awkward sizes Hmmm, actually it’s usually the case they have too few windows because windows (carpentry to house them and the actual window) is far more expensive than just having a wall. But you’re right, they’ll often have a window that is incoherent with the rest of the house and/or in a weird spot when viewing the home from outside.