Have you seen the new trend in the US towards "Barndominiums" Basically a huge open space like a loft or this area that you were talking about here. They throw up walls and while it looks totally industrial on the outside, it can be as warm or modern as you want it on the inside. I'm assuming there are some cost savings involved and they are probably more practical in warm climates where insulation isn't as big of a deal. I think my fear with having free time when I get to that point is my wife and friends will still be working. What will I do then? I'd probably be more likely to hang out at a state park than a cafe, that's just my preference.
I haven't heard of the term, but I like the idea. Barns might not be great here, bit if able to find an unprotected (limits renovation) factory building, it is possible. There is a paper factory in the very center of the city that is shutting down, and I am pretty sure they will turn it into incredibly expensive apartments.
If it was summer, I might have been outside too. But it was -10 today and I don't think my fingers or butt could take it :)
Yeah, I totally understand that. I used to have a job where I would drive from house to house installing cable modems for people. In between each call I often had a lot of down time to just sit in my car or go to the park or read or whatever. I don't think I really appreciated that time back then like I should have.
One thing nice about Finland is that even in the cities, you are never far from green spaces. Well, white spaces in the winter. But it means that on a break, I could just sit on a bench and think a bit.
That's kind of how it is where I live.