Question No. 1

The Smithsons saw their car as a "moving living room" during a time of "'car inhabitation."' The car was used as an empty space - with limitless possibilities as to the use. The children would laugh and play and do all sorts of activities from drawing to playing games to do with the exterior world around (whether that be the car itself or the landscape through which it traveled). In addition, the adults - namely architects - sketched and photographed along the journey. The car was treated as precious material, photographed and captioned in the same manner as one would a permanent built home.

Today, not much has changed. However, we do not see the car as a "moving living room" but rather a separate entity within itself. Whereas with the DS and the old Volkswagen Beetle the experience had much to do with the journey, the exterior world around and all that surrounded it, the modern car has much to do with the interior and forgetting that you are driving a long distance haul or a short trip to the store for milk. The modern features of a car entail fine stitched leather, an abundance of digital media - radio, HD radio, Satellite radio, CDs, and even DVDs - and on many high-luxury cars a heavy tinting on the windows. The world around has been literally faded out. However, we do still see the car in terms of performance of a single limited task and means of construction. However, the scope of these criterion have expanded. The car must now not only get us from place to place, but it must also have an acceleration rate quick enough to beat the car next to us, as well as be able to play hours of digital music or cartoon shows on a monitor in the rear - or at times in the dash. It has become multi-functional. The attraction of the car has flipped completely interior. The car still needs to get us from place to place, it just has to do it faster and with less of the "bore" of a drive. Finally, the means of construction. In the past, details were exalted and praised, shown with artistry and pride. However, now seams and things are hidden away behind panels and layers of bond-o and paint. The obvious construction of the car has been veiled beneath a layer of sleek and shine. The car has become much like the House of the Future - molded in plastic although only in a sensory way. The car is much like the H.O.F., in that it is built in the most efficient manner and not at all in the way which it appears. The car has a rigid frame throughout, whether it be door panels or roof, it has structure that is not as smooth and flowing as the car would give hint to. It is simply a skin stretched tight over the frame and made to look at, like the unrealized cloud in the House itself.