Since the end of World War II, American cities have been stuck in the development trend of urban sprawl. The suburban ideal and proliferation of the automobile have fostered this trend, as well as several other negative issues in our society including inefficient land use and isolation of lower social and economic groups. After fifty years as the model by which American cities grow, it has proven itself to be both inefficient in land use and ineffective in bridging the social gaps that have existed since its inception. A new model for city growth is necessary, one that encourages steady and denser development, and the evolution of such a model should begin in a place in which the core of many American cities are built upon: the neighborhood. This thesis will research the ideas present in many traditional American neighborhoods, ideas that have allowed many of these neighborhoods to exist as integrated urban microcosms within cities even into the modern era in which we now live. The goal is not to simply mimic these ideas and the situations which encouraged them, but to reestablish them with consideration to modern issues, lifestyles, and cultures that exist today. Research will be conducted into the nature of neighborhoods as social phenomena as a way to understand, and therefore respond to, how we interact with one another in the places in which we live. Research will also be conducted specific to the city of Tampa, Florida; exploring the structure of existing neighborhoods in Tampa as well as housing types commonly found in the city. The case study of Radburn, New Jersey will be examined as well as New Urbanism ideas to understand how others have approached the idea of neighborhood. Neighborhoods were once the dominant method of development in the United States prior to the Great Depression and World War II. Urban sprawl and suburbia abandoned the idea of neighborhood in favor of a different ideal for living; an ideal which, whether intentional or not, encouraged private living and design decisions which centered around the automobile rather than people and social situations. While design investigations will include macro and micro strategies, a specific goal will be to explore how the design and planning of single family homes can be rethought to provide more frequent opportunities for social interactions with ones neighbor as well as improved relationships with the street. The conclusions of this thesis will aim to prove that reestablishing this phenomenon in urban planning can provide positive growth, encourage social interaction, as well as allow our basic nature as humans to take root.

With growing urban populations and increasing concerns over the effects of climate change on water supplies, there has recently been a significant amount of interdisciplinary research focused on identifying the drivers of urban water use. Due to unavailability of individual or household level data, these studies are often limited to using spatially aggregated data. There is concern that this aggregation of data may be leading to misrepresentations of the drivers of urban water use, yet there have been few studies that have addressed this concern. As in all spatial quantitative analyses, studies in this area should consider how the spatial scales chosen for analysis are affecting the results. The purpose of this research is to use a case study of single-family residential (SFR) water use in Portland, Oregon to determine the extent to which scale variation significantly affects the patterns of SFR water use, and whether household scale water use is influenced by neighborhood and census tract characteristics. The results of this analysis provide evidence that aggregating household scale water use data can mask meaningful patterns in SFR water use and potentially provide misleading information on what is influencing water use habits. This research also shows that using the chosen exploratory variables, there is a statistically significant, but not substantial, cross-scale influence on household scale water use by neighborhood and census tract characteristics.

The vast majority of housing in the United States today has been created to conform to a family definition that does not match current demographic realities. The "traditional family" - a married couple with an employed husband, a homemaker wife, and several children has been the model family that housing designers have strived to accommodate on a grand scale since at least the mid-1940's. This type of family, however, comprises only 10% of all American families; the remaining 90%, despite being a majority, have had their housing needs ignored. One family group often considered to be non-traditional and often left out of housing considerations is the single parent family. This family type is an established household form in the United States; currently nearly one third of all American families are single parent families, most of which are headed by women. During the past few years housing projects have begun to appear that are designed to house "non-traditional families" such as single parent families. It has been generally assumed that the spatial needs of single parent families are different from those of nuclear families or the "traditional family". This research will focus on the analysis of housing as designed for single parent families in comparison to housing as designed for the American nuclear family. Floor plans of the two housing types were obtained from the following cities: Denver, CO, Hayward, CA, Providence, RI, and Minneapolis, MN. The intent of this study is to examine what, if any, differences occur in the spatial orientation of housing designed for single parent families and housing designed for the nuclear family: the single family detached home. The study examined room layout in relation to use and commonly accepted social function. Two methods of analysis were employed: gamma analysis as developed by Hillier and Hanson and annotated analysis developed specifically for this research. The method of gamma analysis was used to determine if the housing as designed for the two family types is different in form and social function, while the annotated analysis was used to measure the "fit" of the housing for each of the family types. It was originally expected that the single parent family dwellings would exhibit a higher degree of integration than the single family detached homes based on predictions gleaned form the literature. However, the gamma analysis revealed a lower mean relative asymmetry value for the single family detached houses (0.308), indicating a higher degree of integration, than the mean relative asymmetry value for the single parent family dwellings (0.368). This difference was not found to be significant (p = 0.276). The annotated analysis results indicated single family detached houses scored a better fit to their intended family type (mean annotated analysis score = 0.638) than did the single parent family dwellings to their intended family type (mean annotated analysis score = 0.533). Again, this difference was not found to be significant (p = 0.385). The findings of this study provide a glimpse at the interior spatial arrangements of housing as designed for the two family types in question. While the results of the two analysis methods seems to indicate that the interior spatial arrangement of housing is not meeting the needs of either family type, more research should be conducted to further substantiate the findings. These findings will be of interest to designers of homes, housing developers, planners and policy makers, and researchers in the field of housing, all of whom can have an effect on the shape of the housing environment and can help make it more suitable for all family types. / Graduation date: 1991

When single-family lots are valued for development of new residential areas,the valuation is influenced by several factors. The valuation is a matter ofdefinition that varies according to its interpreter. Previous research conductedin other countries, has identified a number of value-influencing factors. Thesefactors are the basis for this study.The study's purpose is to highlight the value-influencing factors thatcustomers value and are looking for in the choice of single-family lots. Thestudy also seeks to determine if there is an unknown difference between howprofessionals and clients value single-family lots.The study showed that the value factors considered important for customersand also professionals are consistent and applicable with the factors reportedfrom previous research. These value factors are the location, adjacentneighboring areas, public transportation service, house plot size and proximityto the community, bodies of water and schools. For the Swedish market fourvalue-influencing factors not mentioned in the previous research wereidentified. The additional factors are; the selling price of the single-family lot, acorner placement lot, connecting bicycle path and walkway and lot withorientation south and west. The previous research mentioned also three valueinfluencingfactors that were not identified in the Swedish study. These factorswere; distance to the highway, municipal tax rate and access to the singlefamilylot.The study showed that the parties generally have good knowledge of oneanother´s valuation of single-family lots. This study focused mainly on theprofessional’s knowledge of the customer’s value-influencing factors. Theprofessionals base their valuation on incurred development costs, local priceassessments and a consideration of customer’s value-influencing factors. Thisknowledge is important for real estate appraisers and developers when settinga value on single-family lots, to be able to determine the most accurate value.The study is limited to Swedish medium-sized cities and was performed inKarlstad and Hammaro, which together have a population of approximately100,000 inhabitants. The data was collected through both a qualitative and aquantitative method approach, intended to reflect both professionals andcustomers perspectives. The qualitative method approach consisted of openand individual interviews with experienced professionals. The quantitative7method approach consisted of an online questionnaire, which was answeredby existing and potential customers. The empirical data for the qualitativemethod approach is presented in text and the quantitative method approachby the empirical data presented in tabular form.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 25, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Benyamin Schwarz. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Home builders are supplying mass housing projects which are designed without taking into consideration the specific needs and expectations of residents. As well, house are not produced with enough flexibility to enable homeowners to perform easy adaptations that would express their own choices and accommodate their particular requirements. On the other hand, due to economic constraints, most first-time home buyers usually cannot afford the professional services of architects in order to have a house specifically designed to suit their needs and aspirations. / This research explores the different types of modifications that occupants of affordable single-family housing in Montreal make to their residences upon occupancy. / The survey revealed a high level of user intervention--93.6% of the residents made the modifications by themselves. This demonstrates that residents fully engage in housing adaptations when they are given the opportunity to do so, as is the case in the researched houses which offered some type of flexibility in the form of an open and unfinished basement. 108 of the 141 households took advantage of the originally unfinished basement by finishing it and adapting it to their needs and desires. / The author concludes that a house should be adaptable and flexible enough to respond to residents' demands, allowing them to adapt their living spaces according to their personal choices and requirements, as well as to personalise it. As well, the author, convinced that houses do not need to be entirely finished since residents will modify them in any event, suggests certain guidelines and provides recommendations on how affordable single-family houses in Montreal can best be designed to allow for post-occupancy adaptation and user intervention. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

This thesis examines the house as symbol of God, self, and body. This is a way to explore the expression of individuality both incorporated in, and invoked by the middle-class single family home, particularly for women. The theme, "the temple within," is intended to create a conceptual framework for the identification of activities which give the elements of the house meaning for the occupants. The elements of house, garden, hearth, entrance, windows, attic/stair/cellar, and walls and spaces, are identified through the analysis of primary sources. These are the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Competition Series stock plans from 1947 to 1963, as well as two suburban homes from the Carlington neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the appropriateness of these symbols of home as a vehicle for women's identity of self.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [189]-194).

A importância deste tema pode ser ilustrada no fato de que a autogestão é a principal forma de gestão da construção residencial, pois representa aproximadamente 70% das novas habitações e 87% das obras de reforma e expansão no país. Apesar da importância deste tema há pouca bibliografia na literatura especializada nacional, indicando a necessidade da realização de pesquisa nesta área. Neste sentido esta pesquisa objetivou investigar o atual modelo vigente de gestão, a autogestão, nas obras de reforma em edificações unifamiliares, levantando indicadores de produtividade para se obter um diagnóstico sobre o estágio da eficiência neste tipo de obra. A metodologia utilizada baseou-se em etapas de revisão bibliográfica e na realização de um estudo de campo envolvendo 20 entrevistas. Destas entrevistas, 10 foram realizadas com os gestores de 10 obras de reforma e as outras 10 entrevistas foram realizadas com profissionais de diferentes agentes atuantes no setor da construção civil. A diversidade dos entrevistados foi produto da busca por descrever um panorama geral da autogestão conforme as diferentes perspectivas. No estudo de campo concluiu-se que a informalidade neste setor é um resultado da busca do menor preço pelo autogestor, e do cliente pela mão-de-obra. Apesar de ser denominado como autogestor da obra, nos casos analisados, a gestão da obra é realizada com grande tendência ao insucesso, pois os autogestores não possuem conhecimento suficiente para tomar as decisões de uma obra e, não contratam profissionais habilitados para tal. Estas características podem ser resumidas na opinião generalizada dos empreendedores obra é sinônimo de problema. Desta forma espera-se, como resultado desta pesquisa, contribuir com uma melhoria na gestão desta tipologia de obra e, indiretamente, aumentar a eficiência no uso de recursos utilizados nas suas atividades. / The importance of this theme can be illustrated by the fact that self-management is the main form of management of residential construction, as it represents approximately 70% of new dwellings and 87% of planned remodeling and refurbishment in the country. Despite the importance of this issue there is little information in the national literature, indicating the necessity of conducting research in this area. In this sense, this research aimed to investigate the current prevailing model of management, the self management, in reform and refurbishment works in single-family buildings, surveying productivity indicators to get a diagnosis on the stage of efficiency in this type of work. The methodology was based on stages of literature review and in conducting a field study involving 20 interviews. Within these interviews, 10 were conducted with managers of 10 works of reform and the other 10 interviews were conducted with professionals from different agents in the construction industry. The diversity of respondents was the result of search by describing an overview of self-management according to different perspectives. In the field study it was concluded that this informal sector is a result of the search for the lowest price by the self-managers, and lowest cost labor. Despite being termed as self-manager the refurbishment, in the cases analyzed, the management of the refurbishment is performed with great tendency to fail, because they have not enough knowledge to make good decisions and did not hire qualified professionals to do so. These characteristics can be summarized in the general opinion of the entrepreneurs that refurbishment is synonymous with trouble. Thus, it is expected as a result of this research, to contribute to an improvement in the management of this type of work and, indirectly, increase the efficient use of resources used in their activities.