Lue teksti ja valitse oikea vaihtoehto kohdissa 1–8 ja suomenna tekstin tummennettu osa, kohta 9

‘A man’s home is his castle’, goes the familiar saying. Home is a place of importance to most of us, but the different aspects and characteristics that are most valued tend to vary. Some appreciate space, some cherish compactness. You would think that most homes are quite ordinary, but some are far from it. For example there is a house in Mexico in the shape of a giant seashell – not something you see every day, right?

Compact is the word of the day. In metropolitan areas, where space is scarce, every square foot matters. Architects have to come up with extremely creative ideas to take advantage of all the possibilities. Perhaps the slimmest house in the world can be found in Poland: situated between two buildings, and the widest point of the dwelling is only 152 cm wide!
Another way to achieve unique places of residence is to renovate old buildings. These can be places that were previously used for entirely different purposes. A decommissioned water tower could easily become a nice abode, and converting an old church to a cozy family home is perfectly feasible. Another marvellous example of this kind of upcycling is a commercial aircraft that nowadays functions as a houseboat.

A clever solution that is increasing in popularity is to build homes in shipping containers – this combines both the aim of being compact, as well as the effort to recycle. Furthermore, converting a container into a home is relatively affordable.
Extraordinary, unusual housing is usually situated far from the hustle and bustle of the cities. Nature acts as a powerful inspirer. There are dozens of examples of cave dwellings – and now we are talking about modern ones with all the luxuries, not ancient relics. You can have all the contemporary amenities, while having a natural waterfall flowing through the lounge. Caves are not the only places in nature that can offer accommodation: there are also condos that have been carved out of giant trees.

Not everyone is after achieving some peace and quiet though: there’s a house in Japan that is totally transparent! The house is located in a busy neighbourhood in Tokyo. The only place you can have some privacy is in the bathroom, as all the other spaces are perfectly visible from the outside. Hopefully the residents don’t have anything to hide!
It is also possible for a home to outwardly appear conventional, while the inside is anything but. Advances in technology have made it possible to have smart fridges and smart ovens, for example. This enables you to pick a recipe based on the contents of your refridgerator as well as signal the oven to start heating up – and all this is done remotely. Perhaps the next step will be a home that cleans itself?

1 What is said about the house in Poland?
a) It is only for short people.
b) It is very narrow.
c) It has a lot of space.

2 Why does the text mention a water tower?
a) There is a water tower next to an old building.
b) A water tower can be made into a home.
c) Somebody’s home was damaged by water.

3 What has happened to an airplane?
a) It has been turned into bicycles.
b) It crashed into a houseboat.
c) It serves as a home.

4 What does it cost to transform a freight container into an apartment?
a) It is quite cheap.
b) It is very expensive.
c) The cost is unknown.

5 What is said about living in caves?
a) It doesn’t happen anymore.
b) It can combine modern equipment with natural elements.
c) Caves are often decorated with old objects.

6 According to the text, are there any other places in nature where one can live besides caves?
a) Yes, inside a tree trunk.
b) Yes, behind a waterfall.
c) No, as there is no heating or water supply.

7 What is special about the house in Japan?
a) It has only a bathroom.
b) It is see-through.
c) It is situated in a quiet place.

8 What does the text say about kitchen appliances?
a) They need to be cleaned regularly.
b) They have been converted into more energy-efficient models.
c) They can be controlled from a distance.

9 Suomenna tekstin tummennettu osa:
Extraordinary, unusual housing is usually situated far from the hustle and bustle of the cities.