Brutalist construction has its place here and there. It evokes Planet of the Apes and TOS
There was a YouTube bit about how easy modern window placement is, and how complex brickwork used to be for window treatments.
Another video compared German walls to American construction—shoddy.
We are losing craftsmen, I fear.
One thing for folks to consider is the use of hurricane clips to make structures a bit stronger. Maybe *real* shutters?
I have long wanted to design a house such that its walls are as thick as bank vaults—that’s where my books would go.
I would have bathrooms, kitchens, hot water tanks—all plumbing—a good five feet BELOW everything else. No more water damage.
Now, for the kitchen, the sinks and all appliances sit atop metal grates about an inch below the kitchen floor…everything leaning back.
No water on that bloody floor.
Behind all of that—and a few feet lower—is an all concrete walkway…such that water heaters are at the far end—and the plumbing behind the kitchen sinks are at head level, so plumbers, repairmen and such don’t have access to the whole bloody house and can’t steal.
I learned a long time ago to hate workmen due to bad experiences—so I want to design residences such that your books, collectibles and such can never be destroyed due to bumbling fools.
With this design, the living space stays dry, and the workmen access only the utilities—and they wade in the crap for a change.
I will do them the service of not having to get on the floor to fix sinks.
The pipes are at head/waist level behind a wall.
I can leave that door open and lock everything else up so I don’t have to miss work waiting for them to show up.
This also makes for a safer home for children, such that service providers can’t get at them. Function over form works with Brutalist designs.
Being in tornado country—I want nothing less than an Inman Embassy.
I have suffered from water damage and theft in my life—doors kicked open—and it would be nice if designs existed to keep tragedies from occurring.
I don’t care what the building itself looks like.
