REBUILDING HOME Revitalizing Neighborhoods by Rehabilitating Vacant Historic Homes in Baltimore

Abstract

In American cities now, there is simultaneously a demand for housing and, in some shrinking cities, a surplus of abandoned, vacant structures. Many of these homes are not habitable after a long period of vacancy, leading neighbors to feel unsafe and move as well, further perpetuating the cycle until entire neighborhoods are vacant. To address this, examining the historical context is critical to developing an approach that is responsive to the local environment and takes key components of the vernacular architecture into consideration. Without this, architecture has the modern issue of developing homogeneity across cities. This thesis will propose a framework for design of housing using Baltimore rowhouse shells. By creating adaptable plans for varying sizes of housing, from studio apartments to large units of multiple rowhouses, architecture will encourage diverse, vibrant, and resilient neighborhoods. This thesis will propose modular, systematic interventions using a matrix of design options to create a system which can be applied across neighborhoods in Baltimore and other American cities. The interventions will be determined by the dimensions, program usage, and circulation, as well as the needs of the existing community. This approach addresses the housing shortage by promoting local home ownership at an individual level, community building at a neighborhood scale, and preserving city legacy.