Thesis. 1975. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / M.Arch.A.S.

Thesis. 1975. M.Arch.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / Bibliography: leaves 188-189. / by Michael S. Harris. / M.Arch.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1964. / MIT Institute Archives copy bound with three title pages at the beginning of text block; MIT Rotch Library copy has title pages bound with appropriate theses. -- Rotch Library copy missing 16 leaves of plates. / Title from half-title page. Three individual thesis titles bound together with a collective title and an introduction. Compiled, with an introduction, by Prof. Eduardo F. Catalano. / Includes bibliographical references. / Preface: "The three individual theses are presented with a common introductory discussion on systems in general, the use of systems in architecture, and the overall goals and requirements for a building system. It is hoped that a better understanding of systems is attained as well as a more extensive background for the individual thesis material." / Hershdorfer, Selma Abigadol. The development of a building unit which is structurally and mechanically integrated and which allows maximum flexibility in internal rearrangement and lateral growth. (1964) -- Hook, Charles Burton. A research and development building for science and technology suitable for both academic and non-academic use. (1964) -- Hoover, George Norman. An academic/research and development building for science and technology. (1964). / M.Arch.

Thesis. 1978. M.Arch.A.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography: leaves 155-156. / M.Arch.A.S.

Purpose:The purpose of this study is to approach a solution to reduce housing shortage, by using inspiration from an industrialized building concept, which can lead to the opportunity for underprivileged people to get a livable housing. The aim is to study how knowledge from industrialized building could be used for a more efficient way of building in developing countries similar to Colombia.   Method:Utilizing literature studies for achieving abutment to published research also giving the authors an observant mind. With this knowledge, participatory observations were made as action research to explore the prevailing procedure when establishing a house. Operating analyzes, interviews were held in Leticia for understanding observed decisions. To be able to critically analyze the results from the interviews and observations, collected data were compared with knowledge based on the authors’ reference frames.   Findings:Keystones identified as the overall concept are applicable on establishments in the western world, since the concept is designed after similar conditions. Capital is required designing a building system as well as establishing a factory for prefabrication of elements, conditions limited in developing countries. Climate conditions and prevailing corruption prevents implementation of the concept. Identified weaknesses during the observations, noted repetition of unnecessary and non-value adding activities. One conclusion is not to implement the entire industrial building system, only practice the mindset. Initially keystones are implemented such as planning, exchange of information and reflection of performed projects, in order to improve upcoming projects. These keystones require no direct capital, merely a mindset that should be implemented.   Implications:The outcome of this study is to enlighten the subject, since obvious weaknesses were noticed, with capacity for development. Further research is realistic because, in a long term it will help solving the housing situation. For example, using this result as underlay for education like creating more efficient building, enlightening planning for reducing unnecessary non value-adding activities. As a conclusion of the study, identified weaknesses during the establishment affects the efficiency, creating unnecessary costs. A developing country should focus upon emphasizing reduction of costs, since their economic status is already declining.   Limitations: The observations during the case study have been concentrating on one small-scaled project in Leticia, Colombia. No further observations have been made but complements such as literature studies and interviews. Due to lack of time and language barrier, the amount of collected empirical data was too limited to provide durable conclusions for question formulations. Since only observations were performed on one establishment, a general result cannot be submitted.

Market demand for housing changes over time, in response to the wants and needs of both individuals and society. Changes in socio-demographics highlight the emergence of non-traditional households in Canada and influence the configuration of a house (or product) which meets buyers' individual requirements. In turn, this affects the design approach (or process). At the same time, society today requires sustainability in housing development, since building a house consumes large amounts of energy during construction and after occupancy. / Technology that improves the cost and performance of housing has advanced over time. Although some innovative design and construction systems (or approaches) that attempt to meet societal and individual demands for housing are available in today's market, homebuilders tend not to apply unfamiliar approaches to their housing developments, since their business operation is often based on convention. Another reason, which inhibits a builder's adoption of new housing technology, is the extra cost required for seeking and analysing information. Thus, the homebuilders' decision-making processes for the adoption of 'familiar' and 'unfamiliar' design and construction systems (or housing systems) which affect the configuration of housing need to be well programmed. / Accordingly, this study, composed of four parts, focuses initially on identifying housing market trends and issues in Quebec, as well as introducing the new concept of mass customisation that encourages homebuilders to standardise parts of a house---i.e. the creation of mass custom homes. Then, in consideration of this new concept, as well as a value analysis approach that helps facilitate homebuilders' buying decisions, it proposes a choice model for the design and construction approaches to the delivery of 'lower-cost and higher-performance' housing. Thirdly, to assess its practicality, the proposed decision-making model is demonstrated in collaboration with a selected homebuilder in Quebec. Finally, the results of this study are discussed in depth in order to identify future research opportunities. / In view of the demonstration project conducted in this study, the author concluded that the proposed 'choice model' could function effectively as a practical decision-making support tool (or system) that helps open the door for homebuilders to generate and select alternatives that aid them to produce lower-cost and higher-performance housing. As a consequence of programming the homebuilders' buying decision-making process, the goal identification uncertainty and goal/purchase matching uncertainty, which often hinder their adoption of unfamiliar, innovative housing systems, could be reduced, or eliminated.

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No description available.

Mobile homes, like other forms of factory-built housing are ideally adapted to the use of solar energy because of the materials and construction methods used in their manufacturing process. This thesis is written to examine those characteristics of mobile homes which can best be taken into consideration in the attempt to maximize solar efficiency and reduce energy waste. Design factors which effect the adaptation of solar energy to a typical MH unit include: solar access, types of of solar utilization, energy storage, lot orientation, general climatic relationships and MH park design. The paper will conclude with a case study involving the use of these factors in the design process of a MH project in Blacksburg, Virginia. / M.A.

En general el diseño de las políticas habitacionales ha prescindido del conocimiento de la demanda específica. La producción del hábitat popular ha sido a través del uso de técnicas constructivas industrializadas, adoptando estrategias de producción masiva, con una eficiente utilización de los recursos, pero ignorando las exigencias individuales de cada familia, la pluralidad y el dinamismo de la sociedad. En consecuencia surgen complejos que no se adecuan a las necesidades de la población, donde los usuarios intervienen incorporando necesidades no previstas en el desarrollo del producto. A partir de un escenario industrial competitivo donde la diversidad del mercado es un nuevo factor para las empresas, surge la customización masiva como una nueva estrategia, capaz de satisfacer a los consumidores con diferentes productos sin aumentar significativamente los costos y el tiempo de entrega. En programas habitacionales la oferta de customización es muy limitada debido principalmente a lograr una economía de escala de la producción. El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue proponer formas de retroalimentar el proceso de desarrollo del producto a partir de las intervenciones realizadas por los usuarios. Fueron realizados dos estudios de casos de programas residenciales, donde la participación del usuario en el desarrollo del producto es diferente. La investigación se realizó en tres etapas, siendo la primera etapa A de comprensión del proceso de desarrollo del producto, caracterizando la empresa y los emprendimientos. Fueron realizadas entrevistas con informantes calificados, visitas a los emprendimientos y análisis de documentos técnicos. La etapa B tuvo como objetivo la planificación del levantamiento de datos para capturar las informaciones de las intervenciones de los usuarios en la etapa de uso de las unidades. Para esto se realizóla colecta de datos a través de entrevistas, y cuestionarios estructurados a los usuarios, y análisis de las intervenciones a través de fotografías satelitales. La etapa C busco identificar oportunidades de procesamiento de los datos, para entender los requisitos de los usuarios y contribuir a mejorar el PDP. Se identificaron estrategias en el proceso de producción de un sistema industrializado de producción de viviendas, encontrando oportunidades de implementar mejoras en la capacidad de adaptabilidad del sistema a los cambios producidos por los usuarios, aumentando la variabilidad y flexibilidad de las opciones de viviendas ofrecidas por la empresa. Conjuntamente con la empresa fueron analizadas las intervenciones y se identificaron oportunidades para adoptar distintos grados de customización. Las principales contribuciones del trabajo es comprender cuales son los requisitos de los usuarios en la etapa de uso de las viviendas, para lograr un producto customizable en proyectos de vivienda de interés social y contribuir al desarrollo de productos industrializados que incorporen estos requisitos. / In general, housing policies have ignored knowledge on the specific needs of families in the design of housing projects. In fact, several industrialized building techniques have been used in social housing, often connected to the adoption of mass production ideas, with the aim of achieving a highly efficient use of resources, but ignoring the individual needs of each family, and the plurality and dynamism of the society. Consequently, there are many housing estates that do not fulfill the needs of the population, resulting in changes in the housing units carried out by the users so that their requirements can be properly considered. In an industrial setting that has growing competition, the diversity in the client needs has become a key factor for several companies in the manufacturing sector. In this context, mass customization has emerged as a new strategy, with the aim of satisfying users with different needs without significantly increasing costs and delivery time. However, in the social housing sector, very few programs offer the possibility of customization, mainly due to the need to achieve economies of scale. Thus, the aim of this research work is to propose guidelines for providing feedback to the product development process of social housing projects, based on product changes that have been made by the users after delivery. Two case studies were conducted in different residential projects, developed by the same company, in which the degree of user involvement in product development was different. The research method was divided into three stages. In stage A, the aim was to understand the product development process, the housing company involved in this investigation, as well as the three projects. The main sources of evidences used were interviews with company representatives, visits to the housing estates, and document analysis. Phase B involved the collection of data related to the product changes carried out by users in the three projects. The main sources of evidence used were interviews with a sample of users, direct observation of those changes, and analysis of interventions by using satellite photos. Phase C sought to propose guidelines for processing user requirement data, and to identify improvement opportunities in the product development process. Regarding the industrialized building system developed by the company, some improvements were proposed, mostly related to the capacity of adaptation of the system to the product changes often made by the users, increasing the variety and flexibility of the housing options offered by the company. In collaboration with company representatives, different degrees of customization were devised. The main contributions of this research work are concerned with how to capture and process requirements based on multiple sources of evidence, as well as to understand the nature of product changes demanded by the users, which can be useful for designing customized houses.