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Geography of Home, by Akiko Busch.
Subtitled "writings on where
we live", this book collects Busch's series written
for Metropolis
about five years ago. The thirteen short essays address
different parts and rooms of the American house, from the
front door to the laundry room. The author traces the changes
in lifestyle that have impacted the idea and plan of the
house, though she notes that as much as things change, people
are unwilling to part with those symbolic pieces that mean
home. The front door is the perfect example. No longer used
by many people - opting for the more direct route from the
garage to the kitchen or mud room - it is still a strong
part of house design, existing more as symbol than function.
But the author does not limit herself to this take; across
the essays various viewpoints are delivered to the reader,
perhaps making them more aware of what surrounds them each
and every day. Ultimately it is a snapshot of the American
home at the end of the 20th century. As the title suggests,
the geography of the home is an ever-evolving thing, embodying
part of the past, ourselves, and (in some ways) our wishes
for the future.
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