Having read Witold Rybczynski's book, Home, during the holidays,
it really struck me how mankind's quest for comfort, convenience
and privacy has been the driver of change in urban living and
home design for the past 500 years. In his book, Rybczynski, who
is the emeritus professor of urbanism at the University of
Pennsylvania, looks at how home life has evolved from the Middle
Ages to the late 20th century. He traces how the design of our
homes has shifted from basic shelter from the elements and
enemies, to our castles of comfort. Using a series of artworks
of domestic scenes - from German artist Albrecht Durer's St.
Jerome in His Study (1514) to a Victorian bathroom illustration
from 1885 - Rybczynski traces how homes have progressively
become more comfortable, convenient and private. The book is
full of interesting facts - such as during the 16th century,
households of 25 people in one-or two-room homes was not
unusual. Nobody had their own room and even bathing was
communal. Even in early 17th century Pa