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ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9085-3933

Access Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

thesis

Embargo Period

4-28-2023

Degree Program

Architecture

Degree Type

Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)

Year Degree Awarded

2023

Month Degree Awarded

May

Abstract

Housing is one aspect of architecture and urban planning that has constantly been improved and redefined to suit the needs of people during the time periods they have been living in. People have taken significant steps in establishing how they want to live in retrospect to the times, according to their values and needs. Today, more architectural research may address the understanding and production of a healthy way of living than any other aspect of placemaking. It is no surprise that so much effort supports this spatial concern, which contributes to a fundamental building block of shared cultural definitions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has simply underscored the importance of this movement. In human terms, these times have indicated that when the going gets tough, people turn to their own cocoons for shelter, safety, and storage, while this so-called place of safety becomes a focal point around which they can develop their life and subsequently their communication to the outside world.

With the growing challenges in everyday urbanism, and the population of the world reaching new peaks every year, one must question if the issues of the past such as the scale and speed of construction can coordinate with the critical timelines that society now faces. On top of that, disasters and climate change simply heightens these challenges. Providing housing for all may not be a viable solution in the long term. People often see housing as a product or the result of the process, and this idea needs to be given significant thought so that the discourse of housing and eventually urban living reflect a world of comfort and social utopia. The thesis also narrowly touches on the fact that housing is a form of architecture that is ever changing. Once this idea has been accepted, urbanism can begin to address things that affect the environment, health, and other aspects of value which are now loosely attached to one’s living conditions.

This thesis explores the various ways of establishing comfortable living space, in particular the notion of “Hygge” and its parallels across the world, and identifies “incrementalism” as a common framework to support health, facilitate safety, and build comfort for a large audience.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/35389067

First Advisor

Carey Clouse

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