'The World's Most Extraordinary Homes' Changed The Way I View Sustainable Living | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

'The World's Most Extraordinary Homes' Changed The Way I View Sustainable Living

Season one of "The World's Most Extraordinary Homes" leaves viewers inspired and excited about the future of architecture.

7
'The World's Most Extraordinary Homes' Changed The Way I View Sustainable Living
Photo by Kinshuk Bose on Unsplash

When you think of your dream house, what comes to mind? Perhaps your mind immediately floods with images from your "Houses" Pinterest board, or you imagine a celebrity home that you've seen. For me, I've always thought that I wanted a house surrounded by nature and that I wanted it to be grayscale with wooden accents. I thought about the home's vibe, even the location, but I never really thought about how sustainable my home could be. I never thought that my future house could be a work of art with something to say. I never thought that my house could set a standard for other homes around it and prove that man and nature could live side by side respectfully. A partnership is more beautiful than anything humans could create when thinking solely of themselves. And season one of "The World's Most Extraordinary Homes" changed that for me.

The show's first season focuses on houses built near or in different parts of nature, specifically the mountains, the forest, the coast, and underground.

The two hosts - Caroline, an actress and home developing connoisseur, and Pires, a world-renowned architect - travel around the world looking at houses that push the boundaries of sustainability and architecture. I found it interesting that, typically, the homeowners found a beautiful plot of land, and rather than determining that was the view that they wanted for their gaudy house, they would recognize that a house changes the landscape and that the landscape was something sacred and not to be disturbed. Thus, they would tell the architects that they wanted "the land to be the main feature" or that they wanted the "house to compliment the landscape."

This attitude was not about the typical displays of domestic grandeur but about the grandeur of nature itself.

This sacred attitude that the landowners had towards the land changed the whole process of building the house. Suddenly, rather than the architects tearing apart the land so that the people could enjoy it, the architects had to be mindful of the natural ecosystem that was already present. Since the architects already had nature as their priority, they invented unique ways to incorporate sustainability into all aspects of the houses.

Now, I'm no architect, and I certainly don't have the money to create the masterpieces that were done on the show. Nonetheless, since watching that season of the show, I cannot help but look at the construction around me and the structures that are already complete. And I feel a little disappointed at the opportunities that were missed. I cannot help but think of how many trees were chopped down and how many creatures pushed out of their homes to make way for my lifestyle. And in the meantime, around the world, there are people who are building mansions while only having sacrificed four trees or less.

The show "The World's Most Extraordinary Homes" has made me long for the landscapes that I never even got to see.

The landscapes that died for the structures I live in. And it has made me protective of the undisturbed landscapes that I see now. I hope that the next land developer who comes to the beautiful, wild, and undisturbed land plots in my community won't see them as unused. I hope that they recognize the creatures that live there, and the history in the trees, and become awestruck at the homeostasis that these small areas created for themselves. I hope that they recognize that the place they're about to work in is alive and more beautiful and complex than any structure they could create. And I hope that motivates them to use the technology that's out there in a unique way to ensure that sacred plot of land remains sacred. The structures incorporated into the land should encourage humans that come to live there to appreciate it and partner with it and see it for what it is - natural beauty.

In a world consumed by constructed and interrupted beauty, "The World's Most Extraordinary Homes" shows what it looks like to partner with and embrace the natural. It regresses the notion of beauty to what it once was, and reminds us that progress sometimes means looking around, breathing in the beauty, and saying, "This is enough."

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

232
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

114
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

198907
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20095
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments