What does the size of a living space say about a culture? Is it more affluent or more wasteful? Is it just a fad?

The American McMansion (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/30/australians-have-the-worl_n_374251.html)has met its match. A new study reports that Australians now live in the world's largest homes, overtaking the U.S in the rankings.

The study, commissioned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, found that the average Australian house had grown by 10 percent in the past decade to 214.6 square meters (2,310 sq ft), Reuters reports.

This compares with the average size of new homes in America, which shrank to 201.5 square meters (2,169 sq ft), down from 212 square meters (2,282 sq ft). This was the first decrease in America in a decade and was a result of the recession, most reports noted....

And this only a little over a year after Australia surpassed the US as the world's most obese nation... By 2011 I expect them to win the Super Bowl.

Go OZ!!!

~String

And this only a little over a year after Australia surpassed the US as the world's most obese nation... By 2011 I expect them to with the Super Bowl.

The saying is "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" right? :shrug:

I would just think house and body size wouldn't be what they aimed for. Especially house size. I can't imagine cleaning/heating a house that big.

I would just think house and body size wouldn't be what they aimed for. Especially house size. I can't imagine cleaning/heating a house that big.

Hmmm.... perhaps they will start importing undocumented Mexican day laborers, then?

The saying is "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" right? :shrug:

I would just think house and body size wouldn't be what they aimed for. Especially house size. I can't imagine cleaning/heating a house that big.

Getting lost in my house would be the main issue for me. I can't spend hours each morning trying to find the kitchen and then the front door.

Hmmm.... perhaps they will start importing undocumented Mexican day laborers, then?

I'd imagine they have aborigines who work for them on the cheap. :shrug:

Getting lost in my house would be the main issue for me. I can't spend hours each morning trying to find the kitchen and then the front door.

ever seen the Ozzy Osbourne commercial where he uses a GPS around his house? :D

i dont see the pont of that article and the images show one wealthy persons home in one country and then some less wealthy homes in another country.

I recently saw a documentary on Travel and Living on the Palm Beach residences in Australia.

Apparently the idea is that they pay more for the "unspoilt" surroundings

And then build these:

http://www.rent-a-home.com.au/common/utils/makethumbnail.aspx?img=/property/Images/9326_1_27082008.jpg&w=570&h=430

The theory is that people trade off a bigger house for living in a less-developed suburb or other location. If there are few shops, no cinemas, little outside entertainment near where you live, then you buy a big house and spend more time in your home cinema room.

The saying is "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" right? :shrug:

I would just think house and body size wouldn't be what they aimed for. Especially house size. I can't imagine cleaning/heating a house that big.

That's just because you haven’t got one! We Aussies mock you from our stately homes:p

Owning a house bigger than you need is nothing more than a status symbol - an attempt to show off. Just like buying a Beemer or Land Rover to drive 2 miles to work. No practically, just vanity. :shrug:

Owning a house bigger than you need is nothing more than a status symbol - an attempt to show off. Just like buying a Beemer or Land Rover to drive 2 miles to work. No practically, just vanity. :shrug:

Whoever has the most and the biggest when they die wins! Isn’t that the American Dream?

We Aussies use an H2 Hummer’s as a golf buggy’s! :D

Whoever has the most and the biggest when they die wins! Isn’t that the American Dream?

We Aussies use an H2 Hummer’s as a golf buggy’s! :D

Heh! As I said, nothing but pure vanity. Whatever YOU think is important in life, and that includes trying to impress people, is your own business. It won't affect my happiness or feeling of self-worth one little bit.:) Though I must admit I get big laughs out of seeing all these self-important people and their toys. So they DO have one positive effect - entertainment:D!

HDI Ranking ( Kind of standard of living ranking for 2009) :

1 Norway 0.971 (▲ 1)
2 Australia 0.970 (▲ 2)
3 Iceland 0.969 (▼ 2)
4 Canada 0.966 (▼ 1)
5 Ireland 0.965 (▬)
6 Netherlands 0.964 (▬)
7 Sweden 0.963 (▬)
8 France 0.961 (▲ 3)
9 Switzerland 0.960 (▬)
10 Japan 0.960 (▬)
11 Luxembourg 0.960 (▼ 3)
12 Finland 0.959 (▲ 1)
13 United States 0.956 (▼ 1)

If interested, please check google/wikipedia for further info.

...The study, commissioned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, found that the average Australian house had grown by 10 percent in the past decade to 214.6 square meters (2,310 sq ft), Reuters reports.

This compares with the average size of new homes in America, which shrank to 201.5 square meters (2,169 sq ft), down from 212 square meters (2,282 sq ft). This was the first decrease in America in a decade and was a result of the recession, most reports noted....

so even with our homes shrinking in size, their homes are now bigger than America's average home ever was.

Could it be possible that we have more people living in city apartments and that's why the average is what it is?

And this only a little over a year after Australia surpassed the US as the world's most obese nation... ...

:eek: they are fatter? But I thought they had perfect health care. Do you have a link to that please?