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Why don't we use awnings anymore (2022)

(thecraftsmanblog.com)
413 points samclemens | 1 comments | 15 Oct 24 22:11 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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pistoleer ◴[16 Oct 24 07:10 UTC] No.41856374[source]▶
It surprises me to read about "fixed metal frame" awnings. You don't _have_ to make that trade off.

In the Netherlands a lot of houses have electrically retractable awnings (or even just mechanically windable by hand), especially above the giant windows facing the back yard.

During winter and bad weather, we retract the awning. When it's too sunny, we deploy it.

typical row house layout with big windows on both sides: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doorzonwoning

retractable awning: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonnescherm

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greener_grass ◴[16 Oct 24 08:21 UTC] No.41856798[source]▶
The Netherlands seems like the most sensible country on earth. How did they manage it?
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niemandhier ◴[16 Oct 24 09:32 UTC] No.41857177[source]▶
That changed in the last decade, among other things the population is dissatisfied with immigration.

I cannot tell you if that is justified, but I can say from personal experience that in some cases the praised Dutch directness turned to racism. Things like, people not believing that you have a phd, or refusing to take your credit card because the color of skin does not match the ethnicity of the name.

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1. brnt ◴[17 Oct 24 11:45 UTC] No.41868702[source]▶
> but I can say from personal experience that in some cases the praised Dutch directness turned to racism

It always was a thin line. What has changed is that victims are now speaking up, and a silent majority realizing that brutish-directness always was a subgenre that somehow kept being taken as representative of directness.

One can be direct and courteous (and not racist), but the Netherlands (as in Holland) isn't the best place to find that.