Malý Dům

Would you ask me for the one thing that all cities had in common, I could only give one answer: Dirt. Be it hamlet or metropolis, rich or poor, noble or peasant. At all times you could find it. Be it on the walls or the ground, its inhabitants or its animals. Alas, every rule knows an exception.
I speak of Zelezny Zaliv, one of the island settlements. To enter it is like entering a dream. In my humble opinion, this has to do with their houses. Many places neither value nor understand the importance of a pleasant and clean facade. To be greeted by the pure white of Zelezny Zaliv made it more sympathetic to me than any magnificent palace of pompous nobles ever could. To bask in its simplicity, the elegance of white, was a joy I rarely felt, even after traveling the known world.

The Joy of Traveling - Chapter 8, A town in White, Hugo

Design

Outside

The outside of the houses in Zelezny Zaliv is notoriously plain. The two-story buildings, most of whom don't have a roof, are painted in exactly the same white color. There are two windows on the ground floor, three on the upper floor towards the street. The door on the ground floor is simple, a slab of wood with a small window to see any potential visitor.
If the owners of the house, as well as their block, think highly of themselves and have money to spare they may invest in luxurious decorations. While these may appear modest to people coming from places like Vakana, the act of covering your facade with simple ornaments is considered luxury in their society.
Towards the inner side, the house is far more open. Eight houses form a block, which shares a communal courtyard. On the first floor, there is a pavlač, connecting the eight houses in one great balcony. Depending on the mutual friendship or hatred of the eight families living in the block, it can be separated or form one big communal living area. The courtyard is often used to grow fruit or vegetables, some even serve as animal pens.

Inside

While the design of the inside may vary based on the wealth and status of its inhabitants, some general rules apply to all. When entering one first comes into a vestibule. Most of the time it is bland, a room covered in white, with a spot for the guest to deposit his footwear and coat. If the owner is wealthy and prominent it may feature some decorations like a stool and shelf to sit down and store your belongings.
Other than that the rooms are similar to most houses found throughout the known world. On the ground floor, there is a kitchen and a dining room, perhaps a lounge it the owner feels fancy. The upper floor is made up of the bedrooms and the balcony. The balcony serves as the primary living area, which works communally.
In stark contrast to almost any other civilization in the known world, every house includes a bathroom with a toilet. It is connected to the city's sewers and is one of the prime reasons why it can be so clean. The builders of the city also despised any bare ground inside buildings, leading to the entire building, including its floors being built with stone. The only exception to this rule is the floor of the upper floor, as it was both too heavy and impractical. The roof is a different story, as it must be able to withstand attacks by catapults or trebuchets. This is admittedly very unlikely but gives the inhabitants a feeling of security.

Type

House