From Thoreau to Tinyhouse
The current exodus of people from cities back to nature takes many forms – from hermit living and off-grid eco-farming to cottagecore videos featuring daisy-dyeing. What draws people to this lifestyle? Is it truly a choice, or a consequence of the housing crisis and increasing demands of the job market? Is the portrayal of such a life a romantic fantasy, or can simple living in nature actually be liberating? How do modern hermits differ from Robinson Crusoe, and Instagram homesteaders from Marie Antoinette on her pastoral estate? And if you decide to leave the city yourself, do you know how to survive?
This course will explore the ideological foundations of the divide between urban and wilderness existence (including the canonical Walden by Thoreau). It aims to help students define their own preferences, critically assess the current situation, and—ambitiously—offer insights into the pursuit of a fulfilling life.
A practical component will focus on the architectural aspects of natural living. We will discuss permaculture farming, rural renovations, and the tiny house movement, including its historical predecessors. In the final session, students will design their own hermitage or garden.

Petra Karlová
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