Hakuna siri kwa plot.

Introduction:

In this article, I explore the effects of shared walls between bedrooms and across separate units on the intimacy of married couples.

We recently downsized our home and experienced firsthand the challenges of shared living spaces as we move from a semi-detached maisonette to an apartment block or is it a flat.

After moving in I couldn't help but notice how these spatial relationships can significantly influence the privacy and intimacy within a household. As a result I have been forced to delve into the historical context of traditional African homesteads, where separate huts for family members provided privacy and how modern architecture sometimes overlooks the importance of such arrangements.

During a previous reflective moment which was brought about after attending a "traditional wedding" where the idea of the girls family giving the young couple a king size bed did not seat well with me so I wrote an article about the origin of the 2 generation old cultural practice, you can read it here "Taxation and the birth of the double bed "

Transitioning to a Smaller Space:

In March of 2023, part of our family moved from a spacious four-bedroom maisonette to a smaller empty nest II appropriate two-bedroom flat.

While this move was anticipated and planned for, it still presented some adjustments, particularly due to the proximity to our neighbours, one living below and the other living above us. This was a new experience to me as I had not lived in a flat/apartment since I was 5 years old.

The permeability of sound through the floor and roof became evident, making me more aware of every movement our neighbour made from their visits to the toilet at 3 am to their interesting dragging of their bed every morning soon after waking up.

Had I known about this noise permeability before, I would have considered soundproofing the floor and roof during the renovation process. Nevertheless, it is now a learning experience as my brain rewires to block out certain sounds and differentiate internal apartment noises from those above.

Importance of Spatial Relationships:

As I go through this experience, one aspect that has caught my attention is the significance of spatial relationships, particularly within bedrooms. In the past, I lived in homes where the master bedroom was separated from children's bedrooms by corridors or other barriers beginning with the house we moved to in Buru Buru when I was 5 or 6. Interestingly, even thought the houses were attached 3 in a row they were offset so that the master bedrooms had no shared walls with another bedroom within the house or even the neighbours.

This design provided a sound barrier and enhanced privacy for the couples. However, in our current flat, shared walls between bedrooms have become a concern, leading me to reflect on the various homes I've lived in and how the spatial layout was well considered by the various architects something to seems to have been dropped from out current training of architects or training.

Functional Design and Common Sense:

As a non-trained architect, my observations and time spent with professionals have convinced me that functional design should be guided by common sense. When an architect overlooks the importance of privacy and intimacy for married couples, is a reflection of a lack of depth in the design considerations.

Historical examples, like traditional African homesteads with separate huts for family members, emphasised the value placed on privacy and intimacy. Unfortunately, modern living has neglected all this and assumed that we are living in monasteries.

Conclusion:

The impact of shared walls on the intimacy of married couples is an important consideration that architects and homeowners should not overlook. Creating private spaces within a household is crucial for fostering healthy relationships and overall well-being.

As we continue to adapt to smaller living spaces and urban environments, it is vital for architects to prioritise functional design and incorporate elements that respect the need for privacy between couples.

By doing so, we can ensure that modern homes promote intimacy and harmony among families and couples in particular, just as the traditional homesteads did in the past.