Unusual Houses

Most houses and apartment buildings look fairly ordinary.

But every once in a while, we will see houses that are unusual.

For example, in the United States, there is a home designed in the style of the Flintstones, a classic animation show about a Stone Age family.

The residence is filled with dinosaur models and cartoon boulders.

In another part of the U.S., a homeowner recently decided to decorate the outside of her home with emojis.

Two giant yellow faces with funny expressions are painted on the wall.

The neighbors of these homes, however, do not appreciate the unique design.

They consider the houses to be ugly and say they do not wish to live next to such eyesores.

They also argue that the homeowners have to respect the wishes of the majority of the people in their neighborhood.

Indeed, the neighbors of both houses have sued the homeowners and demanded that they return the homes back to its original form.

However, the homeowners have refused the demands of their neighbors.

They say that as the property owner, they should have the final say.

And as long as the structure is not dangerous, they should have the right to build and design whatever they want.

Meanwhile, the public has had mixed opinions about the matter.

Some people side with the neighbors.

They say a grotesque building can negatively affect the local real-estate market.

Potential buyers may not wish to purchase houses near such a strange place.

This could bring down property prices throughout the neighborhood.

Others, however, applaud the decision of the homeowners.

They say that creative and unique homes like the " Flintstones house" or the "emoji hose" add color to a neighborhood.

Without such interesting houses, neighborhoods would become too dull and boring.

 

• fairly  ˈferli  상당히, 꽤 /  공정[타당]하게, 정직하게

• every once in a while  가끔[이따금]

• boulder  boʊldə(r)   (물이나 비바람에 씻겨 반들반들해진) 바위

• eyesore  ˈaɪsɔː(r)  흉물스러운[보기 흉한] 것(건물·사물 등)

• wish  wɪʃ  바람, 의도, 소망  / <가능성이 낮거나 불가능한 일을 바라며 ‘…이면 좋겠다’고 생각함을 나타냄> 

• grotesque  ɡroʊ|tesk  터무니없는, 말도 안 되는(불쾌하거나 모욕적일 정도로 이상함을 나타냄) /  기괴한[기이한](모습이 무섭거나 재미있게 이상함을 나타냄)

• bring down  ~을 줄이다[낮추다]

• dull dʌl  따분한, 재미없는 (=dreary)

 

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