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ORCID

N/A

Access Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

thesis

Degree Program

Architecture

Degree Type

Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)

Year Degree Awarded

2017

Month Degree Awarded

February

Abstract

Building that can adapt and change to become useful for not only today’s society but for generations to come is one which elicits biological and evolutionary processes. In essence, the need for a transformative architecture that can sustain an active dialogue with its inhabitants, whose trend are in constant flux, results in a reunification between humanity and its time-sensitive, responsive natural habitat.

The aim of thesis is to explore what makes people satisfy and comfortable and what factors make their living space and city livable, especially focusing on future housing needs. We can respond to the question of how is the space of the future going to look through several aspects. Housing has been a major challenge for the rising population during last decades, especially in developing countries. My approach will focus on social and interactional space alongside technological aspects. “Architecture as part of life” is a concept that I always carried with me: Buildings that adjust to life, to our needs, to our moods. They should adapt to our space, our functionalities and our needs that change continuously – and even to our sense of beauty, itself in continuous motion.

Life satisfaction occurs most often when people are engaged in absorbing activities that cause them to forget themselves, lose track of time and stop worrying. "Flow" is the term that psychologist coined to describe this phenomenon. I believe that in age of technology and information we can’t ignore social interaction and communication. The concept of spaces of communication can be explained as in-between spaces in terms of architecture and semi-spaces in terms of urbanism. This thesis will argue that the spaces of communication, which are assumed to create social and environmental contact, can exist in any kind of urban environment.

Architecture is based on the past and built in the present to take care of the future. It also mirrors the various aspect of our lives- social, economic, spiritual. Building cannot be separate from history, culture, economy, community and environment. The answer to the question of what will future generation need to live a happy life will vary from place to place. Happiness and satisfaction have universal factors but when we go in depth and explore individual societies and cities in terms of history, background, culture and social necessity we will understand differences that need to be respected.

Generally, despite all differences in professional structures, economic conditions, geographical limitations, cultural, political and historical backgrounds suitable residential spaces in most developing countries face similar challenges. It appears that cities of today, and especially big cities all around the world, are all struggling with similar problems. Big cities should be built of communities which have a feature of small cores (neighborhoods) located in big city; that will benefit from the opportunities of big city. This concept is known as planetary perspective. My site, Tehran, was selected as a prototype city of a developing country. Developing countries are often more challenging because of their population growth that have huge impact on future environmental and economic issues. As urban reality shows, increasing population, demand for limited resources and depletion of natural environment strengthen this default that as urbanization gains pace, more people will find themselves living close together than ever before. The quality of urban living spaces will be even more significant in future. Architecture can change the way we think, we feel and embrace the future.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/9717437

First Advisor

Kathleen Lugosch

Second Advisor

Ajla Aksamija

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