Take for instance, an interesting tidbit from the famous book Suburban Nation, written by Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck. In the example, the authors point out two distinct designs for housing.

The first design is of a house created to fit into a more expansive suburban environment. The authors note how roof lines in houses like this one are created to mimic the skyline of an entire village. The multiple jagged peaks and height variations give appeal to the eyes because the house gives the impression of multiple houses side-by-side at various depths. But the reality is that it's just one big house.

The second house design is that of a more traditional layout, typically found in an older neighborhood. This design has one complete peak, and a basic distinguishable shape. There are relatively few variations in the skyline of this house and from the design, it's quite obvious that this is one house in the midst of many other houses.

For some reason, I find this pretty interesting. While it's probably more of a subconscious observation for most of us, the authors in Suburban Nation note that the simple design of the second house is intended to stand in the presence of a larger community. The variety comes, not from the one house alone, but instead from its place amongst the rest of the neighborhood.

The house with multiple peaks and roof lines, on the other hand, is designed to stand alone - mimicking the appearance of an entire community, all wrapped up into one house. The authors suggest that houses like this give off the impression that they don't have the need for integration into the life of the community.

It's an interesting thought. In a culture that has become so individualized and independent, I do wonder occasionally if some of those values don't get translated into the ways that we design our buildings. Or I guess it could it be the other way around? Maybe our buildings influence the values that we live out within our communities? It's probably a little bit of both.

I'm curious as to what we can draw from this, if anything. Is this a valid observation? Maybe it's too much of a stretch?

Monday also happened to be a holiday to remember the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

As I sat on my porch and read, I also watched the kids play in the park across the street. At one point, one of the kids we've gotten to know came over, walked up onto our porch, and told me about his new orange arm cast and about the fall he had taken while playing at the park a few days ago. He described in great detail how he had broken two of his fingers. He also bragged about the fact that he didn't cry (He later told me that he did cry, but only just a little). When he left, he told me to enjoy the rest of my day - and I told him to do the same.

It was a simple, everyday kind of interaction - nothing to make a big deal about. But I think we often forget the power of those simple interactions.

I got to thinking about all of the struggles in our city - racism, segregation, poverty - there are so many issues with so much history behind them. Sometimes I get depressed just thinking about it all.

Yet, in the midst of all of the negative, it's easy to forget the simple triumphs of Dr. King. No, the world is not yet set right - there is still plenty of hate to go around and racism lingers around like a bad cold.

But on Monday, for whatever reason, I just wanted to remember the beauty of what Dr. King has done.

Through his life, Dr. King set in motion a series of events that now affords me the chance to sit on my porch and talk to the kids in my neighborhood without the color of their skin factoring into the situation at all. Maybe that doesn't sound like much, but I believe it is. I believe the largest human injustice issues in the world today will only be conquered by small human interactions that begin with a foundation of equality. I believe the mission of Dr. King begins on my front porch.

We talk so often of the freedom from oppression that African Americans now enjoy thanks the life of Dr. King and there is no doubt that this freedom must be celebrated.

But sometimes I think we forget the freedom that Dr. King's life has provided to those of us who might have found ourselves in the realm of the oppressor. Today I have the freedom from this realm - freedom from the pressure to hate or look down on another human being, simply because of their skin color. Today I am free to love my neighbor more fully.

Today, I too am free because of the life of Dr. King.

"Men often hate each other because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they can not communicate; they can not communicate because they are separated." - Martin Luther King, Jr.