Average Myrisian House
"It's a wonderful house. But aren't you uncomfortable sitting out in the open like that?"While there are many variations to the culture across Myrisia, some things remain consistent throughout the Towers from north to south. Houses are places to be with the family and rest, while a sense of community brings more communal spaces to exist. There is little in the way of demarcation between one lot and the next, but the culture has reinforced a sense of privacy about what goes on in others' areas. To turn a blind eye is normal, while things which are best done in private still have a space to do so. Spying on your neighbors, even out of concern, is dimly regarded by Myrisian citizens.
"Should I fear my neighbors, then? Or would they think less of me to watch me sit with a mug and watch the stars? What a strange question."
Purpose / Function
The communal focus of Myrisian culture means the primary purpose of a house is as a private place to rest, work, or study. Because of this, there are very few extra flourishes to the common homes. The buildings range from two to four stories in height, using timber frames and intricate woodjoining techniques to keep things stable. The bottom story is usually reserved for a small private space, while the upper floors are where sleeping quarters are located. Most cooking is done outside at stone-lined firepits, and the cooling embers are placed in a hearth or similar receptacle in the ground floor to offer heat through the building. In places where the weather becomes colder, the materials change towards things such as brick and stone. The idea is to use materials which can retain heat inside easier year-round, and to use wooden openings to vent unnecessary heat outwards as needed.
Architecture
Most houses are built to suit the surrounding area, such as to avoid diverting a stream of wate or utilizing slopes rather than trying to flatten them out. The lower level consists of an open area supported by columns, which is where the family will gather for meals or other pursuits. One portion of this is reserved for the cooking fire, usually away from any part of the house which may catch fire. The small internal room holds stairs up into the home itself, as well the start of where heat can be channeled through the rest of the house.
The second floor usually permits access to an open deck over the eating area, and can overlook the cooking area. This allows the residents to entertain guests off the ground floor, with the rest of the home still partitioned off. From there, most of the rooms are set up as a place for storage or sleeping. The master bedroom is always on the highest floor, and by design takes up the whole floor. Rooftops are usually peaked in some fashion rather than flat, and slope away from the house enough to prevent rain from threatening the common areas.
Most of these places tend to have square angles often incorporated into the layout of the walls, in order to prevent it from completely blending into nature. The intent is to pay respect to the natural lay of the land but also make it clear there are people living there. Recently-designed houses have changed to be more round, utilizing various techniques to bring curved space into the living arrangements. These are meant to evoke the classic "Tower" designs while having a distinct identity, and have become quickly popular in settlements which have existed for over a century.
The second floor usually permits access to an open deck over the eating area, and can overlook the cooking area. This allows the residents to entertain guests off the ground floor, with the rest of the home still partitioned off. From there, most of the rooms are set up as a place for storage or sleeping. The master bedroom is always on the highest floor, and by design takes up the whole floor. Rooftops are usually peaked in some fashion rather than flat, and slope away from the house enough to prevent rain from threatening the common areas.
Most of these places tend to have square angles often incorporated into the layout of the walls, in order to prevent it from completely blending into nature. The intent is to pay respect to the natural lay of the land but also make it clear there are people living there. Recently-designed houses have changed to be more round, utilizing various techniques to bring curved space into the living arrangements. These are meant to evoke the classic "Tower" designs while having a distinct identity, and have become quickly popular in settlements which have existed for over a century.
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