One of the first distinctions you’ll notice when travelling to a new place is its unique architectural style. It’s not just the famous monuments and landmarks that have these special design qualities, the homes too boast their own interesting characteristics. What’s considered a standard feature in one region may be completely unheard of in another.
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Let’s explore some of the fascinating differences between homes around the world and see how culture and climate influence these housing choices.
Florida
One creature synonymous with Florida is the alligator, so many homeowners install enclosures around their backyard pools to keep gators out. Not only does this act as a barrier to gators, but it also keeps out other bugs and reptiles and prevents the pool from overheating in the sun.
Mexico
Since most of the year is generally warm, it’s rare to find a carpet in a Mexican home. Instead, colorful tiles cover the floors to keep the space cool. However, this also has the effect of keeping homes chilly in the winter and evenings. As homes don’t have central heating, many Mexicans either bundle up with several layers or use individual space heaters to keep warm.
Morocco
Riads are the traditional homes in Morocco, characterized by having an open-air courtyard in the center with minimal or no external windows. Thanks to the dry climate, the courtyard can be decorated with furniture and sofas without worry of rain coming. Although many riads have become hotels for tourists, modern Moroccan homes still take influence from these classic structures.
Turkey
Walking into a Turkish home, you’ll probably see an “evil eye” charm hung up by the door or other parts of the home, including outdoor trees. It’s believed to keep bad energy away and protects from misfortune.
The UK
Many North American homes have separate rooms or spaces for doing laundry, but in the UK it’s very common for the washing machine and dryer to be in the kitchen. Another aspect of English homes that North Americans might find surprising is that there are no mailboxes, rather there is a slot in the front door to receive mail.
Italy
On the topic of laundry, the majority of Italians live in apartments, meaning space is limited, so hanging clothes to dry outside the window is a common practice. You’ll see this in other warm parts of Europe as well.
Eastern Europe
There are still many historical reminders in Eastern Europe of the Soviet bloc and the architecture that came with it. The juxtaposition between pre-Soviet architecture, usually made of brick and featuring distinctive colors, and Soviet architecture can be seen today.
South Korea
In the winter, Koreans keep warm with an underfloor heating system called ondol. In traditional hanok homes, ondol re-used heat from fireplaces in the kitchen through a series of underfloor constructions, but modern apartments now use an electrical version of this.
Another modern upgrade Koreans enjoy is an electronic door lock, which only requires a code or fingerprints to enter.
Thailand
Before entering a Thai home, you’ll probably see a small, outdoor shrine known as a spirit house, which is believed to ward away spirits and ghosts. The spirit house usually looks like a miniature temple and is decorated with flowers, food offerings and even money.
Japan
In a Japanese home, you won’t walk in with your outdoor shoes, instead, you’ll swap those for some slippers in the genkan, the entranceway. The genkan is usually recessed into the floor so that you will step up into the house after removing your shoes. This keeps the floors clean and free from outside dirt.
Whether you want to find a home with a unique feature like above or a traditional home, our real estate agents can help! Give us a call today to find the right home for your needs and lifestyle.
