Little prairie on the house

Abstract

The urban neighborhood has become a known area of abandonment in recent years. Houses become abandoned then become disheveled and eventually torn down. This can be remedied through the use of infill housing, but to create an optimal, contemporary living experience for the current and future inhabitants of the neighborhood, the project design must be achieved through the lens of nature. This diploma project addresses three scales of design. The neighborhood, the block, and the home. The neighborhood scale is being addressed through the use of eco-streets to create a walkable environment focused on safety. The block scale is being addressed using prairie gardens filled with native plant species to replace turf. This will create outdoor parks and healthier environments for both the natural world and the people living in the neighborhood. The home scale focuses on how technology can create better homes for the environment. Using very little energy while producing energy, water, and food for the larger community. All of these scales will incorporate biophilic design to create better spaces for the human experience by implementing natural materials and spatial arrangements.