Reddit reviews The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live (Susanka)

"Modern" is not actually modern. A home built these days, what should by all rights be considered "modern," is actually called "contemporary." A home referred to as "modern" is actually "mid-century modern" which is an architectural period dating from about 1935 to about 1965. You may have also heard the phrase "Danish modern" which is also, at this point, 50 years old.

I make this distinction because having been in many "modern" (contemporary) homes and you're absolutely right - they're laid out in ridiculous fashion and waste space all over the place. Modern (mid-century modern) homes, on the other hand, are [breathtaking](http://blog.gessato.com/2010/10/28/stunning-lake-maggiore-house-by-richard-neutra/ "if a little agoraphobic at times") on the inside.

The problem is that architecture, as a profession, lost its way after "modern." I mean, where do you go? "Post" modern? That's actually where they went - although the style is called "brutalism." At this point, even brutalism is 30 years old; some have called the current brand of architecture "neo-brutalism." The problem is that after stripping architecture of its ornamentation (but keeping it livable) with mid-century modern, the only place to go to distinguish yourself from your predecessors was "barer." Thus we end up with these ghastly open spaces that feel imposing rather than grand, furniture that is ugly and uncomfortable (rather than clever) and not one but two entire generations of hipsters attempting to out-hip their parents. The result is a self parody.

So. "Modern" houses are, in my opinion, the pinnacle of domestic architecture. "Contemporary" homes, on the other hand, are just fucking retarded.

It didn't have to be this way.

(I feel a little silly having typed all that out for "reddithatesjews28"...)