"That" house: a suburban exploration

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Authors
Matherly, Kalie
Advisor
De Brea, Ana
Issue Date
2022-05
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B. Arch.)
Department
College of Architecture and Planning
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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.