Housing is one of the most critical design challenges of the 21st century. Sparked by increased urbanization, issues around affordability, density, development, and displacement create stress on people and the urban environment. In Washington D.C., an inadequate supply of housing for families forces them to leave the city in search of more comfortable and affordable options. However, families are essential dwellers in a healthy urban fabric.
This thesis explores how architecture and empathic design-thinking can begin to address these issues and contribute to the health of the family unit and a healthy community. My thesis begs the question… what lifestyles are we encouraging by the way we design?
Dwelling is a more appropriate, personal, and empathic term for housing. Dwelling should meet the needs of its inhabitants and support three vital organs of urban life: social activity, peaceful refuge, and theatrical celebrations. A healthy city and a healthy dwelling should include all three. My goal is to re-imagine urban dwelling for families living in the city and how architecture can create intentional moments of connection between people and the city they are a part of – especially how ideas of transparency and movement or air, light and people can be agents of a healthier urban dwelling.
A new mid-rise multi-family dwelling in Adams Morgan, a colorful, diverse, artistic, and eclectic neighborhood in Washington D.C., creates a home that enhances the experience of dwelling for families. My thesis project supports the primary functions of dwelling and secondary functions of food creation through a kitchen incubator. The intention of the building is that it will serve as a space for growth, for individuals and for growing families, that it will be successful as both a well-designed home and a food lab that fosters collaboration and community for chefs and entrepreneurs who are growing their businesses and connections in the city. The building aims to incorporate living elements with nature integrated into the architecture in various ways. This home will be a space that understands the needs of its inhabitants, respects the context of the neighborhood, and supports a healthier framework of the larger city of Washington D.C. / Master of Architecture / Housing is one of the most critical challenges of the 21st century facing the architecture, engineering and construction industry. A lack of suitable housing is a result of increased urbanization and issues around affordability, density, development, and displacement. These challenges create stress on people and specifically the structures where they live. In Washington D.C., an inadequate supply of housing for families forces them to leave the city in search of more comfortable and affordable options. However, families are essential dwellers in the city - they should be supported in the modern urban environment. This thesis explores how architecture and empathic design-thinking, a deep understanding of the problems and realities of the people being designing for, can begin to address these issues and contribute to the health of the family unit and a healthy community.
My thesis asks the question…what lifestyles are we encouraging by the way we design?
Dwelling, the way and act of living, is a more appropriate, personal, and empathic term for housing. In the architect's mind, dwelling should meet the needs of its inhabitants and support three important facets of urban life: social activity, peaceful refuge, and theatrical celebrations. A healthy city and a healthy dwelling should include all three. The goal of this thesis is to re-imagine what urban dwelling feels and looks like for families living in the city and how architecture can be designed to create intentional moments of connection between people and the community they are a part of.
A new mid-rise multi-family dwelling in Adams Morgan, a colorful, diverse, artistic, and eclectic neighborhood in Washington D.C., creates a home that enhances the experience of dwelling for families. My thesis project is foremost a dwelling, a space for living, but also a space for food creation through a community kitchen incubator. The intention of the building is that it will serve as a space for growth, for individuals and families, and that it will be successful as both a well-designed home and a food lab that fosters collaboration for chefs and entrepreneurs who are growing their businesses and connections in the city. This thesis seeks to discover how architecture can empower families and communities to have healthier, more inclusive and connected urban city lives.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/104100 |
| Date | 02 July 2021 |
| Creators | Broadwell, Emily Catherine |
| Contributors | Architecture, Piedmont-Palladino, Susan C., Archer, Scott Brandon, Emmons, Paul F. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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