One reason I was relieved to leave the Netherlands behind had to to with the stifling requirements of government-mandated sameness. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands of petty Dutch rules that governed everything from what you were allowed to call your newborn to what exact color you were allowed to paint your front door (in Amsterdam's city center, you may choose any color at all, as long as it is a particular shade of dark green).
To my chagrin, I've since learned that forced conformity is the rule in a good number of municipalities in the U.S. too (to say nothing of condo boards and homeowners' associations, which appear to be the favorite refuge of wannabe tyrants everywhere). The mentality is on perfect display here:
A property manager's decision to paint a rundown rental house pink is angering some neighbors, who say the owner is trying to get back at the city. BK Management repainted the house in the New Chauncey neighborhood district after city inspectors said the dwelling needed aesthetic improvements. Chad Budreau of BK Management said the owners originally wanted to install neutral siding but chose paint because of the cost. "We were able to get the paint for a very good price, and the students living there seem to like it a lot. A lot of people have actually called and complimented us on the color," he said.
Katy Bunder, who has lived in the neighborhood for 22 years, isn't one of them. "It's the worst I've ever seen on a home," she said. Bunder says the owners "intentionally devalued" the house.
Which makes zero sense.
I wonder if Ms. Bunder would accuse the owners of these and these homes of having "devalued" them. Me, I think it's kinda nice that not every house has to be painted beige or eggshell-white; though if people like Katy Bunder had anything to do with it, no doubt that'd be the law.
The Netherlands must be another gated community in the city of Cape Coral, FL where I attempted to design homes for 25 years. I say attempted because in order to be successful you have to limit your design expertise in order to conform with the ideas of others with no vested interest. Now, there is a vast sea of beige, boring vacant hulks of once expensive building materials assembled in perfect rows surrounded by 8' tall weeds in Cape Coral. Aren't gov't constructs grand?
Posted by: Don | Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Plumbean has slipped his hawser! http://www.amazon.com/Big-Orange-Splot-Manus-Pinkwater/dp/0590445103
Posted by: Dood | Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 01:44 PM
I live in a village full of old, mostly Victorian houses. Many years ago we fought off a proposal to classify it as a historic district, which would have allowed bureaucrats to dictate everything, right down to the color of our homes.
Most of the home owners carefully paint their houses in beautiful colors that enhance their appearance. A few, just a few, have painted their homes bizarre, garish, downright ugly colors.
I like it. It gives the place even more personality.
Posted by: Hittman | Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Bah! You think the Nutterlands is bad? Try Australia, here guys have to paint their balls blue if they haven't had any for over 6-weeks! If you've just had acid you have to do this weird kinda spirally purple & phospho yellow arrangement! Man, this shit is gettin' strong...
Posted by: GreginOz | Sunday, November 01, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Having come from the UK, which is a land of many ancient, and sensible laws, completely screwed up by thousands of modern rule and regulations dreamt up by faceless bureaucrats, and having lived in a condo community here in the US, I can identify with your article here 100%
Posted by: Eyebee | Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 07:36 PM