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<section>
<h2>Don't hide it, make it beautiful</h2>
<p>I'm currently living in a flat, and my internet connection comes in through my living room. That's where
<p>I'm currently living in a flat, and my internet connection physically comes in through my living room. That's where
my home router is placed. However, my main workspace is not in my living room but in my working room,
which is a few meters away. I would love to have a wired internet connection, but unfortunately, with
which is a few meters away. I would love to have a wired internet connection for my laptop, but unfortunately, with
the router being so far away, setting it up would require running a lot of cable through the walls and
ceilings. It would be a complicated route, and while it would eventually reach my desk, it would also
make my flat look ugly.
ceilings. I could either leave the cable visible or go through some serious construction work to poke holes through walls and fake ceilings and
tunnel the cable through there. The latter is out of the table, since I don't even know where would I start.</p>
One fundamental and unavoidable reason I don't do this is aesthetics. My partner is very conscious about
<p>The first option being the only available one, there is one fundamental and unavoidable reason I don't do this: aesthetics. My partner is very conscious about
keeping our home visually pleasing. I care too, though she probably values aesthetics even more than I
do. She likely doesn't see an internet connection as essential as I do. So, for now, I have to rely on
Wi-Fi to connect from my workspace to the home router.
do. She likely doesn't find a wired internet connection to be as essential as I do. So, for now, I have to rely on
wifi to connect from my workspace to the home router.</p>
When I was on holiday in Thailand a few years ago, I noticed that Thai homes are far more practical than
European ones in such matters. In Thailand, plumbing, electrical systems, and other maintenance-required
installations are typically very visible—just out there on the wall. They don't hide these things behind
<p>When I was on holiday in Thailand a few years ago, I noticed that Thai homes are far more practical than
European ones in such matters. In Thailand, plumbing, electrical systems, and other maintenance-requiring
installations are typically very visible, just out there on the wall. They don't hide these things behind
fake walls or ceilings. I believe they do this because they highly value the ability to access and work
on their home's systems themselves. Many Thai people build and maintain their own homes, so they leave
everything exposed for easy access.
everything exposed for easy access.</p>
I sometimes envy this approach. I don't think they do it for aesthetic reasons but out of necessity.
Still, when I saw a Thai homeowner fixing their plumbing outside their house, I thought, Damn, you're so
in control of your home. If something bad happens—like a fallen tree damaging the plumbing—they can fix
<p>I sometimes envy this approach. Which is funny because I don't think they do it for pleasure but out of necessity.
Still, when I saw a Thai homeowner fixing their plumbing outside their house, I thought to myself: "Damn, you're so
in control of your home". If something bad happens—like a fallen tree damaging the plumbing—they can fix
it themselves. Meanwhile, if that happened to me, I wouldn't even know where to start. I don't even know
where my plumbing is because it's all hidden behind walls.
where my plumbing is because it's all hidden behind walls.</p>
That makes me wonder: Is there a way to make these essential systems both accessible and aesthetically
<p>That makes me wonder: Is there a way to make these essential systems both accessible and aesthetically
pleasing? Could we have the convenience of exposed infrastructure without it looking ugly? I believe we
can.
can.</p>
I find the problem is that we have decided certain things—plumbing, electrical wiring, visible
<p>I find the problem is that we have decided certain things—plumbing, electrical wiring, visible
infrastructure—are inherently ugly. But they don't have to be. Some household items, like lamps, must be
visible. Since they can't be hidden, we put effort into making them look good. We choose stylish designs
that complement our home's aesthetics. Why can't we do the same for cables and pipes?
visible by their very nature. Since they can't be hidden, we put effort into making them look good. We choose stylish designs
that complement our home's aesthetics. Why can't we do the same for cables and pipes?</p>
Imagine if all the wiring in your home was encased in beautifully braided, colorful threads, arranged in
<p>Imagine if all the wiring in your home was encased in beautifully braided, colorful ropes, arranged in
elegant geometric patterns. The connections, junction boxes, and fittings could be crafted from
high-quality materials with artistic designs. Wouldn't that be nice?
high-quality materials like metal and wood with artistic designs. Wouldn't that be nice?</p>
Now, you might think I'm crazy—that these things are just ugly by nature. But they're not. In fact, many
aspects of modern design have become uglier over time, and we've just accepted it.
<p>Now, you might think I'm crazy—that these things are just ugly by nature. But they're not. In fact, many
aspects of modern design have become uglier over time, and we've just accepted it.</p>
Consider street lamps. In most cities today, they are dull, industrial-looking poles—rusty, uninspired,
<p>Consider street lamps. In most cities today, they are dull, industrial-looking poles—rusty, ugly,
and purely functional. Yet, in older parts of my city, we still have beautiful, ornate lamp posts from
over a hundred years ago. They were designed with care, meant to serve a purpose, to be visually
appealing, and to last ages. Take a look:
appealing, and to last ages. Take a look:</p>
pics here
<figure style="width: 75%; margin: 10px auto;">
<img width="100%" height="auto" src="../static/streetlamps.png" alt="">
<figcaption>On the left, your ugly, could-be-anywhere post 1971 streetlamp. On the right, a 19th century bad body from Gaudí.</figcaption>
</figure>
The same goes for train stations. Modern stations are bleak, sterile spaces—metal, plastic, and harsh
<p>The same goes for train stations. Modern stations are bleak, sterile spaces—metal, plastic, and harsh
lighting. They resemble hospital emergency rooms. But look at the older ones, like this one.
Those stations are masterpieces, designed like grand halls with chandeliers and intricate details.
Those stations are masterpieces, designed like grand halls with chandeliers and intricate details.</p>
pics here
<figure style="width: 75%; margin: 10px auto;">
<img width="100%" height="auto" src="../static/stations.png" alt="">
<figcaption>On the left, Sants Station, built in 1975. On the right, France Station, built in 1848.</figcaption>
</figure>
Hospitals are another example. Most modern hospitals have the same white, cold, spaceship-like
<p>And talking about hospitals, they are also a good example. Most modern hospitals have the same white, cold, spaceship-like
aesthetic. While cleanliness is important, there's no reason they have to be so uninviting. In my city,
there's a hospital built over a hundred years ago that's so beautiful people visit it as a tourist
attraction. On the other hand, the hospitals I visit personally are plain depressing, soviet style
atrocities.
atrocities.</p>
pics Here
<figure style="width: 75%; margin: 10px auto;">
<img width="100%" height="auto" src="../static/hospitals-outside.png" alt="">
<figcaption>A random modern clinic in Barcelona vs A small section of the outside of Hospital de Sant Pau. I can skip the left and right thing now, right?</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure style="width: 75%; margin: 10px auto;">
<img width="100%" height="auto" src="../static/hospitals-inside.png" alt="">
<figcaption> Some random room in that same modern clinic vs Your regular corridor in Sant Pau.</figcaption>
</figure>
I think we can bring things back, if we care enough.
Look at computers. Most office desktop cases are dull, gray boxes—uninspired and purely functional.
<p>I think we can bring things back, if we care enough.</p>
<p>Look at computers. Most office desktop cases are dull, gray boxes—uninspired and purely functional.
Naturally, many of them end up buried inside desks, or if they are small enough, simply hidden behind
the screen on a VESA mount. But gamers, who deeply care about their PCs, go the extra mile to make their
setups look amazing. They invest in custom cases, LED lighting, and stylish cooling systems. They turn
their computers into art. They are testament to the fact that we can make practical things also be
beautiful if we choose to.
beautiful if we choose to.</p>
If we put the same effort into our homes, we wouldn't need to hide cables and pipes. We could proudly
<figure style="width: 75%; margin: 10px auto;">
<img width="100%" height="auto" src="../static/computers.png" alt="">
<figcaption> The all-present ugly office optiplex vs A beautiful case from a passionate man.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>If we put the same effort into our homes, we wouldn't need to hide cables and pipes. We could proudly
display them as part of our interior design. Infrastructure could be both functional and beautiful,
giving us accessibility without sacrificing aesthetics.
giving us accessibility without sacrificing aesthetics. </p>
<p>I guess the point I want to make is... Don't hide it. Instead, make it beautiful.</p>
I guess the take-away is... Don't hide it. Instead, make it beautiful.
</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="../index.html">back to home</a></p>
</section>