Living / Space

Building regulations to improve fire- and sound-proofing, universall accessability and energy efficiency are all, however necessary and well-meaning they may be, constraints in the produstion of space. When building fully isolated, soundproof independent dwelling units - do we also take away what is essential to dens urban living: hearing, smelling, sensing - and seeing - our neighbour? Are needs confused with comfort? Has our intimate boundaries been pushed too far back as we no longer share a bathroom in the basement or toilet in the backyard? Elevators deliver us directly from the garage to our doorstep, avoiding all kinds of physical encounters and possible confrontations with our fellow residents. Are the residential block we build today merely singular houses stacked together, like this hotel in Holland?