Garages !

Here is Winspear, Buffalo.

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Each house has a garage behind of the houses and the design/color are same to fit the environment/the landscape.



Yes, American house usually have a garage.( In my country; Japan, many people don't have...)Anyway,my image of American house is set with a garage. Americans do "garage sale" and it's popular. I remember that one of my favorite American TV shows;"That's 70s show" broadcast, including the scenes of garages. The main young characters often talk in front/inside of the garage and the scene shaped up my image of 70s American landscape...

According to the website "Garage door styles for traditional homes", there are many variety of styles and sizes. In my view, the type "Transom over flush door" might be not so popular...because I didn't see them many times.



American garages work as a storage shed at the same time and inside has many stuffs for cars which to maintenance,extra furniture or rough and large stuffs.



However.....
If the garage became messy/ dirty ground, then you can call this company :-)


By the way, some people use a garage as their working place. For example, below this picture that all stuffs are put in order and looks very beautiful and comfortable :-)



Look at this blow picture which the place has became a bar !
This might be jokking ? I don' know how many Americans do like this,but it's interesting idea.

The Runch Style Houses

This looks like really American house to me !!


This is my ideal scene of Raunch Style house with beautiful garden.


Rough sketch of a house.

The Runch style houses are my image of typical American house. When I was a child and watched American TV shows, then I saw such type of houses with the American family which an overweight father sits on couch and watch TV with his fat wife.So, when I do image of American houses, first of all I image it. ( It's my fixed idea and I'm afraid to say it to Americans !!)

Well, since I came to America from Japan and took this course, I knew that there are many types of houses and they are mixed built up. Such various styles are very interesting to me. In my country, recently, people tend to build Western style of houses, but I didn't know what type of it. Americans say " why are you interested in American houses ? You can see them in Japan, right ?" but, the houses are not always exactly the same.

Well, according to the website( http://www.architecturalhouseplans.com/home_styles/ranch_house_plans.php), the character of the Runch style (Floor plans) includes

* Wide and rambling
* Almost always one story
* Very low-pitched roof
* Roof may be gabled or hipped
* Often cross-gabled
* Facade width is maximized
* Detailing minimal, but often with decorative shutters
* Moderate to wide eave
* Ribbon windows are common
* Large picture windows in living areas

The above first picture was designed Architect Edward Durell. Since 1956 when it was introduced, the type of house became quite popular. The second one is very beautiful, charming and my ideal runch style. I don't know which age of is. The last one is a rough sketch of a house in 1538 with 3 bedrooms,master bedroom,main floor laundry,2 - piece bathrooms, a kitchen and a large front living room and garden.

Here are some pictures of western-style houses from Japan. Some Japanese houses are designed mixed with Westerns, but most are import houses.



The Japanese house is built mixed with stick style.



The color of the outer wall is very bright yellow. Usually Japanese houses don't use such bright color, always brown, dark brown or white because they are made up with woods.



Here in Japan, our land is not so big. Therefore, some people build such 3 story- houses using upper space effectively. I often see such more than 2 story- houses in Europe.

Well, my sister works for selling houses, so she must be familiar of this topic :-) On the other hand, my father is a gardener who creates Japanese garden. According to him, Japanese garden and western-style houses does not fit at all. He usually doesn't say any complain, but I have known he has a lot that people don't care to create beautiful, original Japanese sublime... I have heard about the foreign visitors who love Japan. When they came to Japan, they would be disappointed at so many western-style houses because they wanted to see more traditional, Japanese-like designs....I know their feelings,but we Japanese people want to shorten the time to build a house and somewhat western-style looks more fashionable and lovely. So,that's why they prefer western one. Well,I think each Japanese person should takes care this issue seriously and should notice how much we have ignored to create beautiful, original Japanese landscape because there are no Japanese spirit in such houses...

Sitcom Suburbs

Here is Tyler street, near South Campus.


California, from " Full House" American TV show.

Mostly every day when I go to North campus, I see the Millersport Highway and have noticed that the unique layout of the houses in the suburb because the stereotype of American houses are bigger than Japanese one. Western people say " Japanese house is like a rabbit house", therefore, when I see such small houses in the USA, it makes me surprise. Basically America has many economic level of people, so I suppose they are probably low income people... I don't know their actual situation, but might be.

Well, when I think about "ticky tacky",I am reminded of the famous, quite popular American TV show "Full House". In the opening scene, I saw such type of houses that Tanner's family live in California.( the above picture is the opening scene of Full House that we usually see in the drama). Well, the houses in Millersport Highway are exactly fit the lyrics " Little Boxed", but like in the case of California, "ticky tacky" is not always small or poor quality, I think.

"what I saw/looked at in spring break"

During Spring break, I did not go any special places. Just staying in my apartment and doing assignments.



I took this picture at Top's. Inside of the body wash towel has many small red heart-shaped sponges and it is soooo romantic !! When I saw this, I was impressed a lot because my country (Japan)usually does not product such romantic stuffs...




Compared with my Iranian house mate's body wash towel, it looks like hand-made, but according to him, it must be machine-made. To be honest, when I saw it first time, I thought it was a bib :-)

Travel Packages

European package tours to America.
America has many natural wonders and man-made attractions. So, European package tours mainly focus such things. For example, national parks (Yellowstoane, Davils towers, Aches national park), Niagara Falls, auroras in Alaska are really good places. Each of them is huge scale and magnificent! Hawaii is a resort and very special place which has very relaxing/comfortable atmosphere.

Here is a website traveling for Hawaii.
http://www.pleasantholidays.com/PleasantHolidaysWeb/Vacation-Deals-Hawaii.html&cid=25&ic_campID=98?gclid=COKx6eOu9pgCFSQhDQoddlcM0g

America has many faces; nature, major cities and resort.
Compare with Europe, it does not have so much variety, but the scale of nature and man-made attractions are quite bigger than Europe.
http://www.tours4fun.com/us-tours/?gclid=COqGydeU9pgCFQ8eDQodiF5wcw





American package tours to Europe.
Europe has many historical places which deep/long history. Each of the country has own unique/attractive culture. People are easy to transfer other countries by train, bus or other transportation. Therefore, the package tours for Europe could have many varieties.

This website has many varieties of plans and the details to go Germany and other countries. But, many of the plans of quality is for first class. If you want to have gorgeous/rich vacation, then you should reserve it !
http://www.tourvacationstogo.com/germany_tours.cfm



This website is for free city tours in Germany/the UK/France/the Netherlands/Spain/Ireland and Jerusalem. If you go to Europe (or in Jerusalem) individually, definitely I recommend to join this tours ! I had joined this tour a couple of times, and the tour guides were really awesome ! Therefore, I just want to you inform this great tours ! http://www.newberlintours.com/nbt/content/view/1/2/lang,en/

In addition,here is a Japanese website for the tours which people could have many valuable experiences of German culture.
http://www.mercadotour.jp/europe/eurexperience/index.htm






Each person has different interests and purposes to go traveling. If you feel boring to just look around cities, join this valuable tours which include German traditional woodwork, wine-making, making sausage/ham...and many !

Package tours are great if you want to travel safely and easily!
When we go to travel individually, we have to make an airplane and any hotels reservations. Also, eating places, safety control, knowledge of the actual places....those are the minimum requirements for individual traveling. But, package tours already included them !
For me, I prefer not-package tours because I can make my own favorite plans. Not only just look around the cities, also it is fan to talk and communicate with the local people :-)

What Style Is It ?

I can't say exactly this house is "....style of house"...
So, each of my comment is just my guess.


This house seems like "Stick Style" because it includes "stickwork". According to "About.Com. Architecture", stick style houses have thease features
Victorian Stick Style homes have these features:
* Rectangular shape * Wood siding * Steep, gabled roof * Overhanging eaves
* Ornamental trusses (gable braces)* Decorative braces and brackets
* Decorative half-timbering

This house might be "Queen Ann Style" because of it has octagonal turret and symmetry designed house.

This house probably "Cape Cod Style" because the chimney is located intermediate of the roof and one story house.

Humm...I don't know what style it is. However, here is Buffalo, there are many such kinds of houses.

Urban Panoramas: NYC vs. Yokohama

The Empire State Building was completed in 1931.　The illumination is changed depending on memorial day and has meanings. In the picture, the color is red　and green, which means "Holiday season" !

This is my favorite city and my favorite night view in the world. The city, named Yokohama, which is located in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. There are many sightseeing places and you can enjoy all day in there. Here is Yokohama, is known Commodore Matthew Perry who was an U.S.Navy arrived in middle of 19th century to demand the opening of Japan to the West.

Well, both urban panoramas look very similar with many skyscrapers,a lot of lights and colorful lights of landmarks.

It is a view of Manhattan. The name of the city came from the Lenape language and means "Island of many hills". Lenni-Lenape is a Native American who lived in New York, Pennsylvania,New Jersey and Delaware areas.

This is Yokohama. The city has both very historical and modernistic places. It is very attractive, beautiful and clean city. There are many interesting museums, delicious various kinds of restaurants, very historical shrines, the zoos which have about 100 kinds of animals, the biggest size of arena and stadium in Japan, many high rank hotels, very calm relaxing atmosphere of Japanese traditional gardens...etc.

The Flatiron Building is a famous landmark of New York City (175 Fifth AVE). It was built in 1902 and was one of the first buildings in the world to use a steel skeleton.

It is the most famous landmark in Yokohama, Japan. The name is "Inter Continental the Grand Yokohama" which is very expensive, high rank hotel. It was completed in 1991 and the shape of the building was designed as a sail.

Well, both unique shape of buildings look very similar. I wonder if people stay there, how do they feel...? comfortable or ? Curiously I want to see the structures of the inside :-)

The Brooklyn bridge is a symbolic bridge of NYC. It was build in 1883 and took 14 years ! It is considered one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States.The longest span is 1,595 feet 6 inches (486.3 meters). Notice! each top of the bridge has American flag !

This bridge named "Yokohama bay bridge" was built in 1989. It is a cable stayed bridge and crosses Tokyo Bay with a span of 1,510 feet (460 meters).

Usually, a bridge is considered as a typical example of "man-made" landscape.
We would be impressed with the great progress of technology !