A thing of beauty is a joy forever. This is particularly true of houses and homes that bring joy to the people living in the house. Beautifully constructed homes are also a treat for the eyes of passersby, who may stop and look in admiration. They may however, never realize the degree of hard work that must have gone into the construction of the house. A house is the culmination of years of saving to collect the resources needed, a final realization of the owner's dreams, endless hours of designing by the architect and the efforts to transform that design into a concrete structure. The job of the architect entails understanding the needs of the owner, visualizing their dreams and giving these the shape of a home. He needs to keep in mind their tastes and preferences and their budget for the venture before sketching out the design. The job comes next and he has to comprehend completely the entire layout designed before starting to construct the house.

The earliest men lived in caves, followed by huts made of straw, wood and bamboo. Houses were the next step, made initially out of stone and then out of bricks. The modern day houses are a far cry from the houses of old. Modern houses could be town houses or semi-detached bungalows, mansions or villas, farmhouses or terrace houses, varying in size, structure and design. The expense incurred in building each of these determine the outcome. City life, as is the case in Singapore, is dominated by apartment living due to the scarcity of space for expansion. The only way they can grow is towards the sky. Apartments are compact and are available in all sizes depending on affordability.

The geographical location of the house is crucial for its design. For example, seaside houses are different from ones in mountains, the later made largely out of wood with sloping roofs to allow the snow to slip down. These are A-shaped houses with fireplaces inside for providing warmth. City houses are different from those on the outskirts; rural homes and urban ones also have little in common beyond the basics. An interesting type of house is the one built on stilts close to water bodies, as the raised level helps prevent flooding inside the house. The entire structure rests on solid wood bars that are sunk deep into the soil for a firm hold.

A house becomes a home when occupants bring warmth and happiness inside it; ensure a positive ambience within that will help preserve harmony.