Impressions : Asuntomessut 2009, Valkeakoski

Spent yesterday mostly loitering at Asuntomessut 2009 at valkeakoski. Quick impression, focus mostly on energy efficient houses with variety of heating and insulation technologies. With green living and sustainable eco existence topic of urgency and priority all over the world, this event helps consumer understand their options.A WWF report on the same subject maybe a interesting read. Energy ratings and efficient houses are a good step forward but Green living is more than just ulta energy efficient houses, it is about way of living and your consumption pattern.

As a Hindi and English speaking person, its a bit difficult to get too much out of the event, except looking around for new fresh ideas in design & interior design and collecting brochures. So for people like myself the first main source will still remain the internet, but it is useful to know what the local players are (especially since these investments are multi year long investments, where capability in local market for support and maintainence is a crucial buy decision).

Technologies and materials used in building industry have come to a point where I find myself struggling to understand them (myself being engineer by education). It scares me to live in a house which has a life of its own, the one I don't understand. Will I choose to live in a house dominated by technology i don't understand ? I guess in many ways I am still old fashioned, I like simplicity and character. I hope newer generation is better equipped then I am.

The thing which kept haunting me time and again going through house after house, was that technology can only be a enabler, it just can't give what i look in a house - "character".The feeling that houses are built more as technology showcases was hard to shake away (which is understandable, as its a marketing and showcase event for latest and greatest in house building technology and equipment). I guess the "character" kind of goes to the fundamental - "Architecture/design", "story of an era" and the "people who make these houses homes".