Shelter (part two); the Pacific Northwest
There are many types of shelter from single houses to multi-unit dwellings. However, the most common choice in America is by far the detached single-family home. (Note the keyword ‘choice’ as a step above mere survival.)
From caves to castles, there are so many styles of this type of shelter that one may recite their A, B, Cs—
A-frame, Bungalow, Colonial, Dogtrot, Earthship, Farmhouse, Geodesic, Hut, Igloo, Jugendstil, Kit-house, Log cabin, McMansion, Neoclassical, Octagon, Pole house, Queenslander, Rambler, Saltbox, Tudor, Unit, Vernacular, Wigwam, X-braced house, Yurt and Zapotec.
Aside from the single-family residence, one may choose from semi-attached/attached dwelling units such as duplexes and townhomes, apartments, condominiums, rowhouses, flats, mother-in-laws, rooming houses and multi-family homes. Nomadic alternative housing styles that move such as tent, travel trailer, tiny house on wheels, yurt, houseboat or float house, or even the newly redesigned covered hammock, are always an option as well.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, we find many traditional styles of the single-family home. Most are wood-framed and fall into the following styles: cottage, bungalow, and craftsman, cabin, lodge, contemporary, coastal or modern.
Small wood frame structures with low-pitched roofs incorporate architectural details of cottage or bungalow design. Such as Arts and Crafts style inspired Craftsman houses featuring fine woodcraft, glass and metal work. These regionally crafted structures tend to have deep covered porches, built-in cabinets and furniture.
The Pacific Northwest lodge, and its smaller version, cabin, employ regionally sourced materials as well as indigenous deign. They normally have a large common space with high ceilings composed of wood posts and beams and rustic details.
The Pacific Northwest contemporary, coastal and modern house feature large windows, open concept interiors and aim to blend with their surrounding environment. Often one can find Asian inspired architectural details in these contemporary and northwest modern homes.
What will the future housing of our region look like? Imagine what future neighborhoods hold. Will there be pockets of unique housing options as well as what currently exists in our housing market and typifies the PNW thus far?
Will prefab, modular or kit-homes, once popular in the early 1900’s, become commonplace? In this region, you may find these homes in timber-frame, log homes, yurts and panelized houses. They offer the opportunity to cut and assemble in a controlled indoor environment. The onsite construction costs are lower as these kits are designed to more effective with less material waste. They may be constructed by the homeowner, a general contractor or a combination of the two.
Imagine the future neighborhood. Will they be more about the outdoor rooms than the inside ones? Will they share amenities like solar, shared gardens, rain-harvested water or water treatment?
If you could design your own village or community would all the houses be the same type, size and shape? What shelter will you choose and why?
You are lucky enough to have a choice. So how will you choose a shelter that encompasses your sense of self, the self you want to show the world + the self that cares about the world around you?
