American Dream 3.0: Flexible Urban Housing for Changing Lifestyles

Abstract

Housing will always be an issue as population continues to grow at a rapid pace. It is projected that the demand for housing in the US will be driven up drastically after the recession. However, even if the population in the US stayed constant, the changing dynamics of culture, lifestyle, communities and technology is causing the existing housing stock created by a conservative industry to become obsolete in meeting the needs of the people. This thesis will explore the tectonics, spaces, and social interaction of architecture that can adapt to support diverse lifestyles of households over time. Design strategies of buildings will be investigated to inform how a home can be made to allow variety, flexibility, and adaptability with consideration towards sustainability with small interventions over time. The project will examine how homes can be programmed for lifecycle living with consideration towards how communities can be created within the household and in the neighborhood.