Abstract:
Though the core design of the suburban house has remained static since the Post War World II
era, the world has dramatically evolved to include innovative technologies, changing family
dynamics, and environmental changes. This type of housing, that utilizes cheap materials and
poor construction methods, coincides with the societal standards of consumerism in the United
States of America. The concept of consumerism is to use and throw away. Just like a plastic
water bottle, these cheap suburban houses are static and are not meant to evolve to meet the
needs of its occupants, but to be sold to make a profit.
This thesis manipulates an existing average house to conform to new standards from the urban
environment that embraces adaptability of form, space, and needs, while giving the occupant
opportunities for choice. By using the existing structure of a home as a shell and for thermal
massing, and creating a new living core this thesis will activate spaces to create different
experiential micro-climates and explore a series of dualities that can kinetically change
depending on the seasonal environment and the future and present needs of the occupants.
