PREFACE – Some say the pursuit of happiness is a “right”. Some say earning a living wage is a “right”. Some say health care is a “right”. Some say housing is a “right”. This could become a very long list. I think we would have a better world for everyone if we could focus our resources on these types of issues instead of wasting them on another long list of counterproductive pursuits.
The context for creation of housing varies widely – the most basic housing is created by the residents of the home from scavenged or harvested materials – the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings, log cabins, adobe structures, and the ad-hoc shelters on the perimeters of too many cities around the world.
More typical residential structures created throughout the world now are not created by the residents – They are created by entrepreneurs or non-profit agencies – and are then sold, leased to, or provided to the residents under various terms.
This changes the relationship between the residents and their respective homes. The homes are produced as a commodity and then are customized to varying degrees by the residents after taking occupancy.
As an architect, I believe that the quality of the space in each home does, in fact, impact the quality of each residents’ life. My goal is always to help guide people to make the best choices with their available resources in order to end up with the best quality of space for their specific situation. In some cases, that is working with the resident of an individual home. In other cases, it is working with a housing developer to provide speculative housing that will be sold or leased.
In one case, it was working with a non-profit organization to build a shelter for homeless families.
In every case, I am thinking about the experience that the residents will have when they occupy the structure, (and the adjacent outdoor spaces). Connecting the interior space with the outdoor space is, I believe, a fundamental element for a residential space. (The courtyard concept apartment complex illustrated here is an example of this thinking.)
Conceiving of housing as part of a neighborhood is also a key element in helping to maximize the quality of the residents’ lives. The ability to shape this aspect of a project depends upon the nature of the project. In some cases, it may only be establishing a complimentary relationship with neighboring properties. In other cases, it may be designing a master plan for an entire community. Collective efforts by residents can also do much to shape a neighborhood. (The image of hillside housing here is an example from Medellin that shows how the integration of public art can build the character of a neighborhood.)
Subsequent posts will discuss the various components of residential projects, the range of different residential building types, and the manner in which different cultures and geographic locations affect the design of housing.
I look forward to hearing from others on how they have helped to make housing that works well for the residents.