The New York Times pays tribute to an American inventor, builder, and feminist who, more than anything, hated housework.
In the '70s and '80s, a quirky woman in a small Oregon town built a machine designed to free women from the drudgery of that tedious, all-consuming, yet unpaid labor: housework.
Frances Gabe died in January at the age of 101, leaving behind an automated, self-cleaning home that comprised more than 68 patented inventions. The New York Times recently remembered her in an obituary that lovingly details her achievements, eccentricities, and motivations.
The confinement of middle-class white women to the domestic sphere was fuel for the American movement now known as second-wave feminism—and for Gabe, it was at least in part a design problem. "You can talk all you like about women's liberation, but houses are still designed so women have to spend half their time on their knees or hanging their head in a hole," Gabe once said.
The self-cleaning house took decades of planning and at least 10 years to build by hand. Multiple videos have been made to show how it worked. Here's Margalit Fox's description from the Times:
In each room, Ms. Gabe, tucked safely under an umbrella, could press a button that activated a sprinkler in the ceiling. The first spray sent a mist of sudsy water over walls and floor. A second spray rinsed everything. Jets of warm air blew it all dry. The full cycle took less than an hour.
Runoff escaped through drains in Ms. Gabe’s almost imperceptibly sloping floors. It was channeled outside and straight through her doghouse, where the dog was washed in the bargain. …
Her sink, toilet and bathtub were also self-cleaning.
The Times also offers a glimpse into some of Gabe's designs, as well as previous coverage.
FULL STORY: Frances Gabe, Creator of the Only Self-Cleaning Home, Dies at 101

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians
Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie