Dependence

Take a look for a moment at these very small flats in London.

I find these interesting because they're vaguely reprehensible: they are predicated on the support of other people to be complete homes. At 32.5 square metres (about 350 square feet), with room for a small table in the living area, you can just about entertain 3 guests. All parties must be hosted elsewhere; probably at a friend's house. After a weekend at home, you would probably feel a bit stir-crazy.

To clarify, these homes are about the size of the average US hotel room.



This reminds me of people who give up cars and switch to public transport or bicycles. They get by just fine in every-day life, often saving money… but when they need to bring back furniture from Ikea, they scab a ride from a friend. (I feel that the number of non-car owners who rent a car or truck for this kind of thing is small. Ravi is a great exception; he maintains a Zipcar subscription, and never imposes.)

Now, this is not a significant rant; I have borrowed larger vehicles myself, so I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't immediately buy a Ford F150! It's just interesting to think of a future in which all of your friends lived in these little pods, or one in which none of your friends owned a car. Would we do just fine entertaining in restaurants and pubs, renting Zipcars and U-Hauls when we bought more than a couple of bags of groceries?

Is it worth giving up self-sufficiency to live in London?

Posted at 2008-01-10 20:33:48 by Richard • Link to Dependence
Comments, trackbacks.