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McMansion is a slang Architectural term which first came into use in the United States during the 1980s . It is a Pejorative term describing a particular style of Housing that—as its name suggests—is both large like a Mansion and as culturally ubiquitous as McDonald's Fast Food restaurants. In addition to ubiquity, almost every reason to poke fun at McDonald's has been applied metaphorically, including an easily noticeable deviation from traditional local or regional architectural style; cheap and mass-produced quality; negative impacts on nature and neighborhoods; and, a diminution in individuality. ORIGINS OF THE "MCMANSION" Starting in the U.S. boom years of the 1980s, the houses now known as McMansions were a new concept intended to fill a gap between the modest suburban Tract Home and the upscale custom-designed home often found in gate-guarded, lakeshore, or golf-course communities. Some large tracts of McMansions have now been developed around such amenities. THE SPREAD OF "MCMANSIONS" As developments of large houses have spread, a number of similar, related terms have been coined, including 'Beltway Baronial', 'Starter Castle' {Link without Title} , 'Tract Mansions', 'Mini-Taj Mahals', 'Big Foot', 'Gable-opolis' and ' Faux Chateau '; these are all pejorative terms. The term 'parachute home' refers to the alleged disregard for regional and immediate site considerations (as if the home had just been dropped from the sky). Closely related to McMansions, but significantly different in both physical characteristics and social associations, are the " Persian Palace s" of Los Angeles . .]] The large tract house phenomenon has begun to spread beyond the United States into other western countries, particularly Canada and Australia . In Australia , such houses have started to appear since the 1990s , in outer suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne, often fuelled by new freeway projects (such as the M2 in the Hills region of Sydney). These are generally in the form of tract housing (by companies such as Homeworld) and are often within their own gated communities. They have come under considerable criticism lately. The term can also (though less often) be used to describe houses situated within existing urban areas. Usually, smaller cottage-style houses have been demolished to make way for these houses. Unlike their US counterparts, they are not usually built as a "development cluster" which is managed by a Homeowners Association . Rather they are built by their owners as a single Dwelling . Styles are often used with names such as 'neo-Georgian' or "neo-Federation" and which evoke the appearance of Georgian or Edwardian / Federation houses. In Melbourne , they are often known as ' Toorak wedding cakes' because of the three-layered front that they have. Some Middle Eastern Nation s, particularly those infused with Oil Wealth , have seen the large-scale importation of many U.S. American concepts, including Sprawling but cheap Pseudo - Mediterranean Architecture , usually for Hotels / Resorts but also for Domicile s. CHARACTERISTICS The kind of houses that are termed McMansions vary in their appearance and layout; however, the following features are the most common. Space and size The foremost characteristic of a houses termed “McMansions” is the impression of its largeness, as the name suggests. This style of house will usually have two stories, although it is common for some ground floor rooms to extend the height of the building. Simpler McMansions will have a simple rectangular footprint, while more complex (and usually more expensive) versions will have additional wings or projections. In addition, the roof will usually be voluminous in order to incorporate an additional story of rooms rather than attic space. Construction and materials Houses referred to as McMansions are usually built of generic materials to facilitate construction, using the same wood-framed studwall construction as smaller, less expensive tract houses, typically with 2x4 studs (and increasingly 2x2 for non load-bearing walls). Advances in building technology have provided easier and less costly ways for features previously only found in upscale houses to be incorporated into mid-range dwellings. For example, large rooms, with large ceiling areas, would not have been possible without metal connector plates to unify the wooden struts, which can be nailed by hand. Alternatively, 5-way or larger pre-fabricated wooden Truss es can be used. This allows much larger roofs over an unsupported span, without the expense of metal I-beams or concrete spans. Exterior style In addition to general impression of its largeness, the other most striking feature of McMansions is their tendency to incorporate architectural elements from historical styles. the styles most commonly drawn on are Classical and Neoclassical architecture, or the Half-timbered European styles, particularly English Tudorbethan and Jacobethan styles. The elements that are used in McMansions are usually decorative, rather than design or construction, features. The two prime candidates for sighting these are roofs, porches and windows. Roof spaces that have rooms, rather than attics, offer ample opportunity for dormers and cross-gables. Porches, being the focus of the front elevation, are often columned and pedimented with Oculus or "bull's-eye" windows. Large windows are often seen in the reception rooms; these range from being merely large, to French doors, to Palladian Window s (also known as Venetian and Serlian windows), in which a central arch-headed window is flanked by narrower rectangular windows. Entrances Houses referred to as McMansions usually have a formal entrance that provides a focus for the front elevation. A porch or portico is common {Link without Title} ; rarer is a ''porte cochere'', a kind of very large porch taken from Neoclassical Architecture that was originally intended to be large enough to allow carriages to drive underneath. Doors for the formal entrance will often be large and ornate. The formal entrance of the house is often echoed by large gatepiers at the driveway entrance, which are sometimes used even in the absence of a gate or fence. Garages Houses referred to as McMansions may have sweep drives and a garage for three or more vehicles. Golf course or lakeside developments will often have an additional shed for a golf cart or small boat storage. Some developments offer the option of a taller and deeper third garage to accommodate an RV or boat on a trailer. Many developments now construct Snout House s with an attached garage in the front of the house. Interior arrangement The interior of a “McMansion” is usually traditional in layout, with reception rooms and Kitchen on the ground floor, and sleeping accommodation on the upper floor. There may be a single small bedroom somewhere on the lower floor for access by guests or should a member of the family become infirm and be unable to climb the stairs to the upstairs bedrooms. A full master bedroom suite (a combination of sleeping area, closets, and private bath) on the entrance level is becoming a highly sought after feature in multistory houses. Large spaces Houses referred to as McMansions frequently include large rooms, often in the form of an '. The great room is often tall and may have a 'cathedral' ceiling following the pitch of the roofline, or it may have a balcony that serves as part of the upstairs hallway. The great room generally takes one of two forms: it is either an open-plan space that incorporates several uses, or a formal drawing room-style reception area. In the latter case, a formal dining room is often found as a compliment to a drawing room-style great room. Smaller reception rooms Smaller reception rooms may provide alternatives to the great room, in order to preserve its formal character. A family room is quite common, as are additional rooms to serve as informal living rooms, libraries or home offices. Family rooms provide space for family entertainment such as casual television watching or playing video games; the upper end of the "McMansion" range may have a separate home theatre. The family room is typically adjacent to the kitchen, or it may be incorporated into an open-plan space that includes the kitchen and an everyday dining area; this kind of large, multi-use room is another way for the McMansion to include an impressive space. Technical features Houses referred to as McMansions typically include a large number of up-to-date and high tech features. Often, such a house will have as many baths as bedrooms, and the master bath may be a home spa, including such features dual sinks, a Whirlpool Tub , a separate shower, or a Sauna . Lighting systems may be complex, with large banks of switches or computerised controls. Television, telephone, Cable , and Ethernet wiring will often be included throughout much of the house. Kitchens may also have high-tech appliances and features, such as walk-in refrigerators with panels that match the kitchen cabinets, built in vegetable steamers, or specialized wine-storage refrigerators. {Link without Title} OTHER CHARACTERIZATIONS OF "MCMANSIONS" Implicit in the term "McMansion" is that many people choose to live in "McMansions." The McMansion trend gives middle/upper middle class households access to desired luxury housing options that were previously only available to those with much higher income and/or wealth. Developers selling homes generally reject the pejorative term 'McMansion'. They counter criticism by pointing out that that they build what sells, and that they use less land for these dwelling, conserving expensive building lots. "We call them luxury move-up homes," says Rob Parahus, another developer. {Link without Title} BROADER CRITICISMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TERM "MCMANSION" The term "McMansion" is sometimes used in the context of general criticisms of capitalism and culture. For example, the developer's supposed focus on maximizing profit over what the user of the term regards to be "quality" architecture. The term has been used in the context of "the biggest house on the smallest block for the lowest price" —- criticism of the quality of the construction, criticism of the perceived wastefulness of McMansion developments, or criticisms of their effect on nature. The term is sometimes used to negatively stereotype the owners and residents or such houses, with reference to their taste (or purported lack of), and their aspirations. In this context, the term may imply Conspicuous Consumption : that the houses are bought on the principle of paying the lowest dollar-per-square foot price and therefore getting more house for their money; or that the houses' size displays their owners' wealth and social status. [http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/wherewelive/series3/ , [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/26/1061663776473.html] While McMansions may be stereotyped in these ways, similar criticisms are sometimes made of large suburban developments in general, whether McMansions or lower-cost housing, as development strategies, design and construction methods are very similar. Aesthetic criticism of McMansions Modern building of large homes have caused changes in the average characteristics of large homes. Aesthetic critics of this change may assert that McMansions as architecture are poorly considered, ostentatious, not "properly" balanced against lot size, or otherwise undesirable in proportion. Such criticism may also extend to the fact that traditionally functional elements of large homes have been adapted as ornamental, and have been juxtaposed to features alien to that original context. Furthermore, these features are generally included solely on the front of the house, and only less often, on the sides. The use and emphasis on ornamental features visible from the front is sometimes criticized as ostentatious or cluttered. The porch or portico, for example, is commonly little used by residents, who come and go through a side door with easier access to their cars. The back of a McMansion almost always left blank and flat. Underlying this is the AIA -approved, status-conscious school sometimes referred to as the "sides of brick" design philosophy. By this line of thinking, "one side of brick" might be seen as "unbefitting" and betray the economic stratum of its inhabitants. However, "three-sides of brick", more clearly bespeaks a higher social status. The specific traditional styles of architecture used are also sometimes criticized because they are not native to the U.S. and because features from different styles are mixed. The styles are popular because they evoke European heritage and can thereby be perceived to imply some association with prestige. But in the eyes of some elites, their supposed brash newness, ostentation and severely limited understanding of more traditional architecture contradict the qualities they are intended to convey. In addition, McMansions are regarded by some as intended to be more individual than they are. Size While the average American household has shrunk in size, the average American home has grown. In 1974, average single family home was 1,695 square feet; in 2004 it was 2,349 square feet. The average household size, on the other hand, has gone from 3.1 people in 1974 to 2.6 people in 2004. {Link without Title} Inside McMansions, the large amount of space means that much of the McMansion's volume is not used as much as space in a smaller house. Rooms can go unused (even unfurnished); this is particularly the case with great rooms and formal dining rooms, which are not suitable for everyday living {Link without Title} . Size is not necessarily a practical feature, but rather is intended to evoke the prestige of historical mansions. The large or numerous Window s that are often found in "McMansions" are sometimes used in the great room, which can result in buildings that are quite expensive to cool and heat if the house has been designed without consideration for its orientation relative to seasonal Sun paths. Large rooms, especially those with high ceilings, are also more difficult to heat. {Link without Title} Space and individual preferences allow the variety of rooms in "McMansions" to proliferate. One report describes a room solely for the family dog, with a special dog shower. The large number of rooms, and their vastness, sometimes leads critics to complain of conspicuous consumption in furnishing them [http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/realestate/chi-0602190284feb19,0,1556819.story?coll=chi-classifiedrealestate-hed . Exterior lighting for "McMansions" is often dramatic, profuse and varied, more for dramatic effect than practicality. Critics sometimes assert it is both wasteful of energy and contributes to a growing Light Pollution problem. In some jurisdictions, in order to combat perceived Urban Sprawl from nearby metropolitan areas, local counties have designated a minimum plot size, having the opposite effect in the larger region. The larger the minimum plot size, the less the population density, and the fewer county and state resources are needed for public facilities such as roads, schools, and water. The plot size is often a matter of great local political debate between the forces of developers, county and local residents. Developers will typically seek a Variance to allow houses to be put on smaller properties, often with the promise of using some land for parks or open space. When a variance is not granted, McMansion plot sizes end up being "too small to farm, too large to mow," and are sometimes criticized as a poor use of land resources which ultimately contributes to further sprawl. Houses referred to as McMansions are also called poorly constructed: "Image has become more important than quality," says Graham Jahn, past president of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Professor Jim McKnight, a licensed builder, describes many McMansions as "flimsy and will age very quickly...We've seen built-in obsolescence in everything else, so why not in project houses?" [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/26/1061663776473.html The claim that the application of modern methodology to the construction of products has decreased their quality or durability, or left them asthetically less desirable, is a claim that has been made with respect to many products, not just "McMansions." Search for community Modest front Porch es with Baluster railings have recently come into vogue as an attempt to evoke an association with the type of house found in an older and established Community . Occupants can sit on the porch and greet passing Pedestrian members of the community; however, this seldom actually occurs as there are usually very few pedestrians in modern Developments and the porches serve rather an ornamental function. Residents of the development typically enter and leave their property by motor vehicle through the attached or alley garage. In many cases it is practically not possible to walk to shopping as the development may not have such Amenities , and may have an entrance without a sidewalk onto a busy Highway . However, the widespread use of motor vehicles and the absence of sidewalks connecting to shopping is typical of many other types of neighborhoods as well. Nomenclature McMansions are typically built on undeveloped land that is razed by bulldozer for the development of a Subdivision . Developers may select pretentious names like "Kingswood" and "Manorcliff" for these subdivisions. Subdivision names may also refer to the very things that have been removed by the construction work. For instance, "Oak Ridge" or "Laurel Hill" refer to native trees or shrubs whose numbers may have been sharply reduced by the construction work. Likewise "Quail Hollow" suggests the presence of wildlife that have in fact been driven out of the area by the residential development. Critics have described these subdivisions as places where "they cut down all the trees and name streets after them". Associated terms Other (usually) derisive terms used to refer to McMansions and their parts:
Forced upscaling In other jurisdictions there may be a minimum area household requirement, designed to keep out residents of lower income by forcing the houses to be large and thus expensive. SEE ALSO
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