Max Podemski's A Paradise of Small Houses: The Evolution, Devolution, and Potential Rebirth of Urban Housing is a refreshing read into the evolution of how major cities have defined housing and how those cities have changed over time in response to demographic or societal trends.
From the bungalow (which was common in many Midwestern and Western cities in the early 20th Century) to the Philadelphia rowhome to the modern townhouse in Houston, each city's housing is given a brief history into its use and how it has evolved over time due to population trends, demographic shifts, or reforms in housing codes. Podemski writes this book from a place of urban renewal and positions it as a call for better creativity in addressing housing shortages (specifically more affordable housing) in a number of cities throughout the country. The author does not, however, overly enforce any hard advocacy and speaks from a storytelling perspective, making for an enjoyable read.
My only gripe with the book is not with content but design. The photos are all in one section in the middle, so when Podemski references images throughout the book, it makes for constant flipping back and forth to reference them. This minor inconvenience aside, the book is interesting reading into architectural and land use history in North America.
MY RATING: 5
