Greenbelt is one of the three "green towns" built during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Administration. It is primary objective was to create employment during the Great Depression. As another outcome of this project, Greenbelt created low-cost housing opportunity for many low-income families. By the project of Greenbelt, the government created a community of 574 masonry townhouses, 5 prefabricated detached houses, and 306 garden apartments. In 1949, the government left the housing business and sold the Greenbelt community to the Greenbelt Veteran Housing Corporation.1
From its background, it was understood that the Greenbelt was highly organized town and still is. As It was well structured from outside, it was also well structured from inside. In other words, its social main theme was to create and maintain the American family structure from a conservative point-of-view. Besides, this planned community tried to establish the sense of communal living. So everything other than what is inside the homes were shared. The areas for recreational activities and the youth and family center were out there for the community to share.
The equality of housing and communal living was reflected in the living
room of an ordinary family. The living room of the Greenbelt Museum is
really small comparing to my own living room. As in my apartment, it is
integrated with the dining room. There is nothing which is unnecessary to
have in the house. Because these homes were design to be cost efficient as
well as they were equipped with the latest technology available.
As we look around the living room, it is easy to recognize that the
furniture fit right in. Because they were all custom-made for the living
room of the Greenbelt House.
They
were available for the residents at
an affordable price. It was possible furnish the entire house with $300.
(Imagine how much it would cost to furnish just the living room.) The
style, which is dominating both in the living room and in the dining room,
is contrast of conservative colors. The earth colors( the tones of the
brown) can be observed on every object that is in the living room and the
dining area of the museum.
When
it comes to my living room, there is a huge difference both in
the style and in the color choice of the objects. I chose the pastel
colors
and mostly the tones of blue in the furnishing of my living room. My sofa
bed has a denim throw. This covers its original pattern, which was a tone
of brown. My loveseat also has a strip pattern throw. I chose to have the
throw cover, in order to hide the paw marks of the cat of the previous
owner. These two massive objects are at the corner, which faces the
entrance of my apartment. By locating them at this point, the optimal
solution for creating space was achieved. Between the sofa bed and the
loveseat, there is a navy color footlocker, which has been used as a
coffee table. My following this order clockwise, there is a mobile coat
hanger. This is not used for decoration. But it serves as a closet for my
overnight guests, who sleep in my living room.
On
the corner adjacent to sofa bed’s, there is the door for the
balcony. The balcony is the only space I have as an outside, which is
included in
my apartment. However, in comparison, the Greenbelt Museum has a garden
which people can walk into from their backdoor which is located in their
living room. This shows that the nature and the living space of people was
integrated in the Greenbelt. On the other hand, my apartment, which is
considered brand new in comparison to the Greenbelt Museum, isolates me
from the nature.
Right in front of the balcony door, there is my bike. One would ask why the heck in the world would someone keeps his bike in the living room. By nature, I am somebody who gets impressed by the living styles of people of the TV characters. In the apartment of Jerry Seinfeld, his bikes hangs from the ceiling. That was the primary reason that I keep my bike in my living room.(And also I do not have better place to put it during the winter time.)
Next
to the bike, there is my home entertainment center. My Zenith 27"
stereo TV, my Panasonic 4-head Hi-Fi VCR, and my Aiwa shelf-size midi-size
stereo set are on and in this entertainment system respectively. The color
of these electronic devices are black, which matches with the color of the
entertainment system. This corner is the most precious place of my home.
Because these electronic devices are the objects in my life which I
value the most. The comfort and creativity, which comes with the
technology, enjoy me the most. I can put a tape in my VCR and bring
the movies into my living room. With the stereo TV, I can feel like I
am the movies even though I am in my living room. I can put my
favorite CDs into my stereo and throw a part in my living room.
In this contrast, the most precious item in the Greenbelt Museum’s
living room(in my opinion) would be the transistor radio. Because the
transistor radio is the entertainment in their living room for the
Greenbeltians of the 1930s, as the home entertainment system is to
myself. David
Leydentells about his precious electronics in his project about the
bedrooms, which will give you a clue how the stylization had changed until
the first Greenbeltians. As a member of the "now" generation, his
comparison will give you a different aspect of the stylization of
consumption.
Next
to the sofas(anti clockwise), there is the dining area. The
dining area is included in my living room. This shows that the
Americans of 1990s are still into the comfort of having the dinner
table in their living room. As it was in the Greenbelt Museum, my
dining table set consists of four chairs. This symbolizes that the
idea of nuclear family still continues in America. There is no more room
for anybody else.
After 6 decades of its service to a Greenbelt family, a Greenbelt house can still be considered as a modern house. Because it is not just the house that is important. It is the surrounding that plays an important role in giving its identification to a house. Both my apartment and the Greenbelt museum is surrounded by nice people. The neighborhoods, which they are in, both have been planned well. As Sara Headman argues in her project, the exterior reflects into the interior. This applies to my comparison, as well.
The living rooms can be different in sizes. But answering the necessities of their patrons, is their common goal. They achieved it for the nuclear family of Greenbelt, as well as they did for me, a member of the "NOW" generation. They both satisfy our needs of stylization of our consumption. I got the huge room for myself. I was able to fit anything I want. And the Greenbelt Family was satisfied with the small, but the warm atmosphere of its living room.