The Big Orange Splot
During my childhood, I discovered a wonderful book called The Big Orange Splot (Professor Franco, you must share this book with your children!!!). It is a children's book about a bird who drops a bucket of orange paint of a house that looks identical to every other house in the neighborhood. Instead of removing the paint on his roof, the homeowner is inspired by the color and uniqueness of the big orange splot and recreates his previously cookie-cutter home into his own jungle residence, breaking from the aesthetic monotony. At first, his neighbors were horrified and urged the man to change his house back to "fit in" with the rest of the neighborhood. But by the end of the story, every house in the neighborhood had been transformed into a reflection of its owners' passions and dreams.
Obviously, this particular children's book is full of social and political commentary. But I think it does a phenomenal job of highlighting some of the primary issues created and upheld by suburban life. Suburbanism fosters a community based on conformity and surveillance. Those ideals are further given power through the creation of homeowner's associations and architectural review boards. The overwhelming message we are sending is that if you do not "fit in" with our image of ourselves and our community, you will be forced to conform or forced out. The case of The Big Orange Splot is a bit extreme in that citizens were living in castles, boats, and hot air balloons by the end, but what a wonderful notion of individual expression through architecture! Instead of trying desperately to hide yourself and your flaws behind pristine lawns, shutters, and drapes, what if our neighborhoods fostered individuality and freedom to occupy your home the way you want to? There are real-life versions of the Big Orange Splot house, like the Mosaic Tile House in Venice Beach, California, that are embraced by their communities as a landmark and a symbol of their collective creativity.
Surely we could all benefit from a breaking the status quo a little more and putting our unique selves on display?
Obviously, this particular children's book is full of social and political commentary. But I think it does a phenomenal job of highlighting some of the primary issues created and upheld by suburban life. Suburbanism fosters a community based on conformity and surveillance. Those ideals are further given power through the creation of homeowner's associations and architectural review boards. The overwhelming message we are sending is that if you do not "fit in" with our image of ourselves and our community, you will be forced to conform or forced out. The case of The Big Orange Splot is a bit extreme in that citizens were living in castles, boats, and hot air balloons by the end, but what a wonderful notion of individual expression through architecture! Instead of trying desperately to hide yourself and your flaws behind pristine lawns, shutters, and drapes, what if our neighborhoods fostered individuality and freedom to occupy your home the way you want to? There are real-life versions of the Big Orange Splot house, like the Mosaic Tile House in Venice Beach, California, that are embraced by their communities as a landmark and a symbol of their collective creativity.
Surely we could all benefit from a breaking the status quo a little more and putting our unique selves on display?
This book also made a big impression on me at a very young age. I was utterly fascinated upon reading it and that same kernel of fascination at an act of non-conformity, push-back against societal homogeneity and embrace of individual creativity has, no doubt, followed me throughout my life.
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