Honorable residences versus functional living
The basic thing that changed over time is the average size of housing. While in the interwar period many families owned country houses, Art Nouveau apartments, or minimalist city villas, following the example of the Tugendhat villa, the Communist era was marked by a move to panel apartments and tented houses. For example, so-called spark plugs are visible throughout the Czech Republic to this day.
The 1990s represent a return to construction. Many people wanted to show that they had a home, and so great cities grew up around larger cities. The average size of the house at that time was between 200 and 300 m2. The desire to build large houses on large land plots has gradually shifted and today the average built-up area is around 80-100m2, equivalent to approximately 4 +1. The houses are most often located on 600 sq m parcels. People prefer flamboyance rather than practicality and functionality and luxury in the form of high quality equipment and the use of state-of-the-art technologies.
From moss to mineral wool
With the advent of cold days, the owners of flats and houses simply switch on the boiler and let the heating go. Heat losses are usually preceded by ingenious thermal insulation. But far from being an invention of recent years. Previously, people used thermal insulation mainly for natural materials. The slits were clogged with moss, the walls were insulated with fibreboards, and the joints around the windows or doors were sealed with rags. In the first half of the 20th century, however, along with the advent of the chemical industry, polystyrene came. In the 1950s, the world's first polystyrene insulation boards were seen, and twenty years later mineral wool was also used.
Insulated and insulated rooms in the past also served heavy curtains. People have found that they can not only defend the light, but also blow up the windows. While Europe has gradually moved from curtains to blinds, America has been celebrating the success of the roller coiling on the shaft since the beginning of the 19th century. The two inventions have been enjoying today as they retain their thermal-regulating properties. "Current roller blinds very well reduce heat leakage, allowing them to reduce heating costs by up to 10% in the winter months. In summer, the exterior shading technique also has an impact on the cost of air-conditioning of office buildings, family houses or flats, " says Lubomir Valenta (Lomax).
The center of family life was the kitchen
Getting together with the whole family at one table today is rather scarce. A hundred years ago, just the kitchen and the dining room were usually the centerpiece of the house. Besides the fact that a number of women stayed in the house and there was always something to eat on the plate, it was also the warmest room. The countryside used the furnace for cooking and heating. In addition, the open door was able to enlighten the room, and most of the family life took place around the furnace.
The kitchen was only discovered in the 19th century when it was still used for solid fuels. The real development of the kitchen was only after World War II. Thanks to the gradual gasification and electrification of households, household appliances were fitted with appliances such as a refrigerator, dishwasher or microwave oven. But the Czechs had to wait for many achievements until the 1990s and opening Czechoslovakia. The trend of recent years is then to maintain functionality and clean up space. Grandmother porcelain so today most households are hiding behind the cabinet doors and the tablecloth serves only during the holiday moments.
The future of smart technologies
In recent years, the number of so-called smart households has risen sharply in the Czech Republic. Automating certain tasks increases the comfort and safety of the population and can significantly reduce costs. While our ancestors were reliant on candle lights and kerosene lamps for the introduction of electricity, it is now possible to pre-set the lighting by the way of work. You can choose not only the time to light in the house or apartment, but also what color and intensity. At first glance, perhaps you do not want to go to the moment when you do not have to go back to the children's room in the evening to increase the chances of the child waking up again.
Likewise, you can easily create a feeling of being at home, even though you are just across the globe. Only a few thieves dare to shine at home. Smarter households can also save significantly thanks to the continuous assessment of the situation and the automatic regulation of heating and water. "In addition to saving and comfort, the interface with a smartphone or computer offers an extra level of security. You can easily monitor the movement in the house, close the garage door remotely, adjust the level of windows or pull the front window blinds in the storm, " adds Lubomir Valenta. At the same time, however, it is advisable to make sure that smart devices are compatible with each other and can work together reliably.
Source: tz, edited editorially