Don't Build Big Homes

Americans should embrace houses that satisfy their real needs, and not mansion houses or castles designed to make a statement.

1 minute read

August 5, 2001, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Susanka wrote The Not So Big House as a prescription for all of the miserable people she'd counseled over the years, homeowners who were profoundly dissatisfied with what were supposed to be their so-called "dream houses." Her diagnosis? Susanka believes that many successful people are afflicted with starter-castle complex, and they build or buy houses to impress other people instead of satisfying their own particular needs. Susanka's remedy suggests the following: Build or buy a house that's a third smaller than your original goal, but spend just as much on it as you had originally planned."

Thanks to Design Architecture

Wednesday, August 15, 2001 in Fast Company

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