Are old houses really built to last?
While it’s often said that consumer products—from electronic devices to Ikea furniture—are “made to break,” a little over a year ago I started wondering about buildings. Do real estate interests, I wondered, plan for obsolescence in the same way product designers do?
Carrie McLaren, at Stay Free!, posted a fascinating interview recently with Robert Zagaroli III, Associate Professor of Architectural Technology at New York City College of Technology. The interview was inspired by the author’s house-hunting experience in NYC, which was reflected the all-too common choice of buying new for convenience and modern appointments vs. buying used for longevity insured by the blood, sweat and tears of the now-rare skilled labor force that built this country. (The author ended up in a century-old brownstone, in case you’re wondering.) The interview touches upon several key points including construction materials and practices, economics of skilled labor, consumer demand, building codes and environmental consciousness. Equally pertinent are the comments following the article that provide some insight into an issue that certainly affects more than New York City.
24 April 2007 | Construction, General, Green Building, Technology | Comments
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