Living
Ideologies are like DNA—foundational beliefs can permeate a society and influence nearly every facet of life and living.
by Takuma Ono
Ideologies, whether it be of social or political origin, rely on a common set of ideas—and often these ideas are self-perpetuating when they are translated into physical form, as built environments. For instance, every residential construction is founded on some ideological belief, which initially manifests as a concept. Concepts are accompanied by key ideological words that are integral to the design conversations that push it forward and give definition to the final product. This is evident in the large-scale housing projects that dominate today’s new construction market. In the United States, it’s typical for developers to purchase a tract of land, subdivide it, identify profitable footprints, and work with an architect to develop floor plans and exteriors—then work with other outside consultants to develop brand identity and advertisement to move the product. Entire neighborhoods can be made this way—and ultimately, homes are purchased by a consumer just like any other product on a supermarket shelf. Because floor plans inform mechanical infrastructure inside the home’s floors and walls, floor plans significantly influence how people utilize the interior. Kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and bedrooms come predefined, and the remaining spaces are designated for living. Living? The living room isn’t the only place where lives are lived within the home so why is there a need to call it that? What are the psychological implications of such nomenclature?
Prior to the Medieval period, English homes were quite simply roofed volumes. Around the turn of the 14th century, basic domestic architecture began to incorporate partition walls that subdivided the roofed space—and the various subdivisions served discreet functions. Room names described its primary function (pantry, buttery, etc) and the act of subdividing responded to the elements such as light, temperature, or proximity to the fire/stove.
It wasn’t until the 17th century that Dualistic world views rose in popularity; many began to believe things existed in opposing pairs, such as good vs evil. Dualism made it possible to distinguish between living and not-living. Arguably, it was only in the late 19th century when living became an important personal value of the masses, and it’s also when the word “living room” took hold. The rise of “living room” coincided with the Industrial Revolution and mass production. In some English speaking countries, the living room is sometimes called the lounge, drawing room, parlor, or sitting room—but these other names just don’t sound very exciting do they. These days, the living room is designed to accommodate a television, sofa, some arm chairs, and a coffee table. Arguably, the most common use of a living room is for vegging out in front of the television. What kind of living is that? Although this pattern of housing development is not the root cause of societal problems, objectively, it contributes to the pervasive perpetuation of a consumer-based society.
Home furnishing companies like IKEA align itself with the above mentioned pattern of housing development. These companies package trending interior styles and the consumer is enticed to select a style that resonates. A home ought to feel like a sanctuary given how stress-inducing the outside world can be—right? The pursuit of a perfect home interior may seem like an innocuous pastime—but actually, this pursuit may become a never-ending cycle of furniture replacement. If you inexplicably find yourself flipping through a home furnishing catalog—slow down—take a moment to think about the underlying ideologies that might explain your behavior.
Photo (untitled) by William Eggelston.