Young households who are new to the interior goods market pertinently experience the financial implication of major purchases, such as furniture or appliances. Due to the high start-up expense of furnishing a home, younger consumers may not be able to afford all the durables they need simultaneously, and would therefore have to deliberate and prioritise their spending in terms of the different interior product categories and zones in their home. In this deliberation, households will justify their expenditures on the basis of the need they have for the perceived value or meaning a room or object has. It is proposed that consumers often evaluate and purchase objects for its symbolic meaning rather than for its pragmatic, functional value or meaning. Since individuals define themselves and others in terms of their possessions and appearance, the home serves as the ideal social environment in which to convey a desired message regarding the household's identity and values. Extant research shows that a common order of acquisition of household durables exists for different consumer groups, and that different consumer groups attach different levels of importance to the symbolic meanings of products and appearances. Consequently, this study set out to investigate and describe young households' allocation of financial and physical resources (i.e. money, effort and attention) toward specific interior product categories and different zones in their home; to investigate and describe households' justification for the allocation of their resources in terms of the functional utility, symbolic meaning (specifically status) and aesthetic appeal of interior products and zones; and to investigate and describe whether young households from different population groups (specifically White and Black) and income groups differ in their interior choices. These objectives were approached from the symbolic interactionist, cultural and multiple mental accounting perspectives. Data was collected from 277 respondents residing in Tshwane, Gauteng during May to December 2011, by means of a structured questionnaire. The sampling criteria were age (25-39 years), location (Tshwane) and home occupancy status (owning or renting a home with multiple rooms). Findings indicated that young households valued a room mostly for its perceived symbolic meaning, then its aesthetic appeal and lastly its functional purpose, but conversely valued the utilitarian purpose of an interior object the most and its symbolic meaning the least. Most resources were therefore allocated to rooms in the social zone, since this area presents more opportunities for appearance and impression management, by means of social symbols, than other, less public areas of the home. Furniture, as interior product category, was households' largest expenditure, possibly due to the role furniture's utilitarian purpose plays in making a home functional and liveable. Regardless of their level of income, Black households allocated more resources to the interiors of their homes for symbolic- and aesthetic-related reasons, than their White counterparts. There was no significant difference between population groups in terms of their tendencies to allocate resources toward the interiors of their homes for utilitarian reasons. No significant differences were observed among the three income categories regarding the allocation of their resources, except when physical resources were allocated toward the interiors of zones in their homes for aesthetic reasons. In this particular instance, households in the upper income category (> R29 000) devoted the most effort and attention to the appearance and emotional appeal of their interiors. The findings of this study have useful implications for retailers, buyers and forecasters in the household furniture, appliances and equipment sector, as well as for consumer facilitation. Retailers may incur noticeable losses if they underestimate the importance of interior goods‟ functional qualities, relative to their symbolic and aesthetic utility. In terms of visual merchandising, retailers may benefit from displaying interior goods as part of a 'room' instead of displayed as separate entities, since consumers, especially Black consumers, would pay more attention to the contextual symbolic and aesthetic meanings of interior goods. The findings also contribute to existing literature, which is dated and limited regarding households' acquisition of interior durables, as well as the functional, symbolic and aesthetic motivations that guide households' allocation of resources towards different zones and interior product categories in their homes, especially in the South African context. Copyright / Dissertation (MConsumer Science)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Consumer Science / unrestricted

The study attempts to determine 1) whether or not consumers want to choose colors for interior goods; 2) whether they agree as to which interior items are most important for color selection; and, 3) whether they prefer to coordinate interior colors for themselves or choose from pre-coordlnated color schemes.

The increasing number and precision of measurements of neutron star masses, radii, and, in the near future, moments of inertia offer the possibility of precisely determining the neutron star equation of state (EOS). One way to facilitate the mapping of observables to the EOS is through a parametrization of the latter. We present here a generic method for optimizing the parametrization of any physically allowed EOS. We use mock EOS that incorporate physically diverse and extreme behavior to test how well our parametrization reproduces the global properties of the stars, by minimizing the errors in the observables of mass, radius, and the moment of inertia. We find that using piecewise polytropes and sampling the EOS with five fiducial densities between similar to 1-8 times the nuclear saturation density results in optimal errors for the smallest number of parameters. Specifically, it recreates the radii of the assumed EOS to within less than 0.5 km for the extreme mock EOS and to within less than 0.12 km for 95% of a sample of 42 proposed, physically motivated EOS. Such a parametrization is also able to reproduce the maximum mass to within 0.04 M-circle dot and the moment of inertia of a 1.338 M-circle dot. neutron star to within less than 10% for 95% of the proposed sample of EOS.

This project is an experiment in the adaptive reuse of an Art Deco style manufacturing facility in Richmond, VA. The building has fallen into disrepair and has been inhabited by two different owners over the years, but the structure remains very much as it did when it was erected in 1946. I will propose adapting to the defunct space, a forward thinking school based on hands-on, creative learning. This school will challenge accepted pedagogies and serve as an exapmple of future learning. I have always looked as adaptive reuse interior design as a parasitic form of designing. The new program is almost never intendeed for the original space as it was designed and therfore should show its uniqueness in contast to the site. In this thesis, I will explore how the program will influence the design process, thus creating the most appropriate design to facilitate a futuristic learning environment in a obsolete manufacturing plant.

An exploration into the possibilities of surfaces as three dimensional forms through abstraction and movement. Through manipulation and the transition from two dimensional and three dimensional surfaces become adaptable for use as functional objects, furniture and spaces as they come together to create designed compositions based on scale, material, fabrication process and meaning. The following writing hopes to present a working statement of methodology for design across the three-dimensional design spectrum, from small objects, to furniture prototypes, to architectural and interior scale concepts.

Housing can be used to satisfy man's needs on all five levels as identified by Maslow, although in the context of Tshwane, South Africa, housing decisions are especially guided by a great need for safety as well as status. Townhouse living offers a secure living environment for residents, while simultaneously providing an adequate status living option that is generally accepted by the public. Along with several advantages townhouse living provides, there are also significant negative aspects. The main consideration for this study is the fact that all of the units in a given complex look either the same or very similar, leaving no room for differentiation amongst the units. This can become problematic, since theory suggest that all people have a need to be unique, and when placed in a situation where they are perceived as being highly similar to others, as in a townhouse complex, people will tend to act in a counter-conforming manner. The only viable option available to the residents lies in the interior of their homes. Much has been published to date concerning the need to be unique and the expression thereof within the clothing environment, but only limited research has been done to explore townhouse residents‟ need to express their extended selves in the interior of their homes. The study involved 182 respondents of both genders, who lived in townhouse complexes in Tshwane. They completed a structured questionnaire, which investigated who was responsible for decisions regarding the interior design and décor of their homes, identified their most valued objects, as well as the reason why it is regarded as such, whether or not they restricted guests to their social zones of their homes, as well as whether they portrayed their social selves to onlookers, their level of need for uniqueness, their buyer behaviour, the source of interior inspirations and lastly, a section on the overall satisfaction they might have with residing within a townhouse complex. One qualitative section, the identification and motivation on their valued objects, was included to gain insight into what type of objects are regarded as valuable, supported by motivations on why it is regarded as valuable. Data collection was especially time consuming, since it was difficult to gain access to townhouse complexes. Convenient snowball sampling proved to be the only option viable to collect the data. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics as well as factor analysis. Respondents indicated that interior professionals were seldom, if ever, asked to assist with the design and décor of their homes and that furniture was their most valued interior objects for social, rather than private reasons. Respondents furthermore indicated that they wished to restrict guests to the social zones of their homes as far as possible and that those respondents who resided in their homes for less than five years preferred their social selves to be displayed, while respondents who resided in their homes for more than five years chose to display a limited version of their personal selves as well. Respondents showed an average inkling to express their extended selves in a counter conforming manner, with the creative choice counter conforming motivation being the most popular option. Their buyer behaviour supported their need for uniqueness, in that the objects purchased for the interior of their homes had to be aesthetic and original. The most prominent source of interior inspiration originated from interior shows and thereafter the respondent's family. The majority of interior shows guide and encourage the viewer to attempt the design and décor of their homes themselves, which may serve as an indication on why so few respondents made use of services provided by designers and decorators. The respondents agreed that, due to the fact that the exteriors appear the same or similar, greater attention is given to the interior of their homes, and that more unique products are sought to compensate for the lack of uniqueness in the complex. About half of the respondents did state, however, that presented with the option again, they would still choose to reside in a townhouse complex. Findings of this study will contribute to existing literature and will be useful to property developers, retail industry, interior designers and decorators in terms of marketing opportunities for their products, be it mass customization (property developers and retailers) or individual customization (interior designers and decorators) to tailor a product that will provide the illusion of uniqueness to potential consumers. Copyright / Dissertation (MConsumer Science)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Consumer Science / unrestricted

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo fazer uma análise formal dos projetos residenciais de arquitetura de interiores realizados por John Graz em São Paulo, nas primeiras décadas do século XX. Desta maneira, pretende-se mostrar sua importância como introdutor da estética moderna nos interiores das residências paulistas e dar a ele o devido reconhecimento pela importância que prestou as artes e a arquitetura brasileiras. / The main purpose of this research is to carry out a formal analysis of the home interior architecture designs developed by John Graz in São Paulo in the first decades of the 20th century. For that matter, it intends to show his importance as the innovator of modern design for home interiors in São Paulo and acknowledge his contribution to the Brazilian art and architecture.

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo fazer uma análise formal dos projetos residenciais de arquitetura de interiores realizados por John Graz em São Paulo, nas primeiras décadas do século XX. Desta maneira, pretende-se mostrar sua importância como introdutor da estética moderna nos interiores das residências paulistas e dar a ele o devido reconhecimento pela importância que prestou as artes e a arquitetura brasileiras. / The main purpose of this research is to carry out a formal analysis of the home interior architecture designs developed by John Graz in São Paulo in the first decades of the 20th century. For that matter, it intends to show his importance as the innovator of modern design for home interiors in São Paulo and acknowledge his contribution to the Brazilian art and architecture.

Engaging Space focuses on arranging as means to engage with space. The adaptive arrangements and spatial negotiations of street vendors provide the stimulus for my inquiry. Noticing the various ways vendors constantly engage spatially has led me to observe the ways spatial practices are adapted to suit various requirements. What might I learn, as an interior practitioner, from the spatial practices of street vendors? How might this be applied to an interior practice, to inform an understanding of adaptive methods to engage with space? Undertaking a practice of vendoring, the projects then become engaging spaces - exploring a practice of arranging to produce interiors.

Regardless of its size and scale, space remains space. The project explores the potential of small and intricate spaces to trigger stories and memories. These spaces become places for the mind to evade. As smallness resonates with preciousness, the dimensions of these spaces invite you  to come closer, enter with the eye and the mind and let different scenarios unfold.