Thesis. 1979. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Constantino Barroeta H. / M.Arch.A.S.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture; and, (M.C.P.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographies. / Columbia Point, Boston's largest and most stigmatized public housing project, has been a focal point for public and private. investment strategies to create a new mixed-income residential community. Columbia Point provided attractive housing for 1,500 families or close to 6,000 people for more than 15 years. Presently, only 350 households remain. Problems in management, maintenance and lack of concern for low-income housing led to the rapid deterioration of the project in the 1960s. More than a dozen redevelopment plans have been proposed which have spanned four periods of active initiatives by the major actors. This thesis examines the history of the planning process and the rationale for the proposed redevelopment plan. The implication of redevelopment on the low-income population as related to four main issues is addressed: private redevelopment, mixed-income housing, demolition and disposition of public housing, and the proposed physical design. The study concludes that the events surrounding Columbia Point and the evidence presented in the plans do not justify the recent proposals for demolition or disposition, nor is private redevelopment an appropriate solution to the problem. Significant losses will be sustained by the low-income population if the present plan is implemented. Moreover, mixed-income housing is overstated as a desirable goal and is fraught with serious problems. Recommendations are made to the Boston Housing Authority to insure that necessary measures are taken so that the low-income population will benefit from the revitalization of Columbia Point. / by Sharon Hsueh-Jen Lee. / M.Arch.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: p. 202-205. / Until now, passive solar energy has been overlooked as a viable alternative for home heating in urban subsidized housing. Rather ironically, in housing whose residents could most benefit from the use of solar energy, such concepts and technologies are not utilized. This thesis demonstrates how passive solar heating and energy conscious design can be economically implemented in low- and moderate-income subsidized housing. The research and design work presented explain the well-integrated system of natural environmental tempering that includes passive solar heating, natural daylighting, natural ventilation and energy conservation. A crucial aspect of the thesis is the method of dollar-for-dollar tradeoffs that is used to keep the cost of the natural environmental tempering components within the strict budget constraints of subsidized housing. Also, the housing is designed with careful attention paid to the needs of the inhabitants. Thus, in addition to the energy concerns, the design reflects new attitudes toward subsidized housing. The resulting solar architecture is a significant answer to the need for economical public housing that allows low-income urban residents to benefit from the sun's abundant energy. / by Karen M. Duncan. / M.Arch.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / The objective of this thesis is to understand the term " HOUSING" as a verb. This implies that housing is a process which includes three major stages. First, the planning POLICY stage determines distributions of resources, methods of production, and programs of activities. Second, the architectural DESIGN stage transforms these objectives into physical environments through technological means and spatial articulations. Third, the INHABITATION stage involves management of the resulted environment, and its use by inhabitants. The quality of the end product and the user's satisfaction with the product depend on who is making decisions in the three stages. In modern Western urban centers, the results of two centuries of industrialization and urbanization, housing for low-income groups is subsidized by government at federal and local levels. Urban social housing projects, with few exceptions, are products of a hierarchical structuring of the three stages of housing. This structure is possible only when it is controlled by a centralized authority. The problems of this rigidity in urban social housing are manifested in its financial strain on public resources, management crisis, and rapid obsolescence. Also, these problems reflect a mismatch between the needs define d by public agencies and the actual needs of the people housed. Exceptional cases to this mismatch reveal conflicts and contradictions in the present system of housing production, and suggest alternatives to achieve a dialectic and productive interaction between all three stages (POLICY , DESIGN AND INHABITATION) in the housing process. Two major issues addressed in this thesis are the characteristics of alternative housing processes and the role of the architect in such processes. / by Lawrence Kai-Leung Cheng. / M.Arch.

Thesis. 1978. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: leaves 103-104. / M.Arch.A.S.

Lee Hau Pan. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2002-2003, design report." / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 116). / preparation / statement / research / appreciation of public housing in HK / appreciation of Ping Shek Estate / building transformation / test program / design experiment / object / flat / block / site / presentation / paper folding model / block model / flat model / model base

Thesis. 1977. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography : p. 58. / by Cheng-Ping Wu. / M.Arch.A.S.

The goal of this research is to provide a clearer understanding of the non-shelter impacts of housing, and in particular of the possible processes by which aspects of housing may impact on aspects of schooling. The intention is not to prove a causal relationship, rather to shed light on mechanisms. To that end the approach taken is qualitative, involving in-depth semi-structured interviews with a sample of public housing tenants and a smaller group of educators. This thesis begins with an examination of previous research around this topic. This review identifies past studies that highlight the possible negative effects of transience as a contributor to isolation; the role that neighbourhood may play in encouraging or discouraging the valuing of schooling; a possible link between crowding and punitive parenting practices; and the impact that high housing costs can have on stress levels and therefore health. This thesis details research that builds on this earlier body of work. Given findings from earlier studies (in particular the importance of neighbourhood effects identified in some United States� studies), a sampling framework was developed to ensure a reasonable number of households who had experienced a change in neighbourhood as well as housing conditions. As well, an interview schedule was developed to provide a framework to ensure that possible pathways between housing and schooling identified in earlier research would be explored in these interviews. Public tenants were chosen as the population group from which to draw the interview sample, as this group have undergone a significant housing change (when they moved into public housing), and their income levels increase the chances of them having lived in poor quality housing in the past. A small number of interviews with educators were also conducted. Schools were chosen randomly from outer suburbs where poor quality housing and transience were expected to impact on school populations. As well an inner-city school in a gentrifying suburb was also selected for interview. These interviews identified four main themes � transience, housing amenity, neighbourhood and cost. Transience may be a significant problem for children who are already struggling in the school system, especially those who are receiving school based remediation. For these children, moving house may interrupt important remediation work at school, and may result in children falling further and further behind their peers. Also, transience may contribute to family stress levels which may impact on health and happiness, thereby reducing motivation and levels of school attendance. Housing amenity can impact on health, as a result of injuries related to poorly maintained or designed housing, from stress associated with noise and broken sleep, and from insect born illnesses due to the absence of insect screens. Possibly the most significant housing amenity related health impact seems to be due to the link between asthma, and dust and mildew. Neighbourhood seems to have the potential to be a significant positive and negative force in people�s lives. Supportive neighbours can make single parenting much less stressful, for example by helping with child-care, increasing the sense of safety, and reducing isolation. Hostile neighbours, on the other hand, can create levels of stress that may force adults and children indoors to avoid conflict. High housing costs can cause significant stress for families. For those who are already suffering from stress this additional pressure may contribute to stress related ill-health. As well, these families may not be able to afford to eat properly, and may not be able to afford to pay for extra-curricula activities such as school outings, dance classes etc. Poor diet may contribute to increased incidents of illness, and extra days missed from school. These insights suggest some changed approaches to the design and delivery of housing assistance in Australia, so as to maximise the non-shelter benefits of such interventions.

Thesis (M.A.)--The University of British Columbia (Canada), 1986. / Includes bibliographical references.

Technological development and regulations are gradually making buildings and appliances more energy efficient but household electricity use remains at relatively high levels and does not seem to be decreasing despite improvements in equipment. The point of departure in this paper is the potential for more energy efficient behaviour where household activities are concerned and how that can be studied. It focuses on public housing companies that have built passive houses, in which appliance use is an integral part of maintaining a comfortable indoor climate. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a model called energy orders for analysing household activities in passive houses and identifying restrictions and opportunities for energy efficient behaviour connected to laundry activities. Qualitative interviews have been conducted with public housing residents on their everyday activities and use of appliances. Results show that activities may be realised in very different ways, and they may result in more or less electricity use depending on the resources households use. However, households are affected by various restrictions that prevent them from making better choices energy wise. Also, opportunities for taking certain actions vary between households. While individual choices do matter the households are undoubtedly limited by restrictions shaped by housing companies and other organisations. Identifying the obstacles that deter households from acting more energy efficiently may increase the potential of the passive house to further reduce household electricity use. Housing companies need to provide more flexible solutions in order to create better opportunities for households to act in more energy efficient ways.