Lazy or Liberating
Elementals Half a house project.
I am largely in favor of participatory design and finding a balance between strategies and tactics when thinking about design. Projects like Elemental’s half-a-house project have been done by many architects in many cultures around the world, while I am mostly supportive of these projects for this post I am wanting to play devil's advocate. These projects give the homeowners a direct way to impact their building environment… by making them fill in the rest for the space to be habitable. This is the lazy way out. They give the “client” less than they need which forces them to infill and adapt the space to their needs. Why not work with users from the start to create a base that is already suitable to their needs? I recognize that this would not be the most cost-effective solution, but these homes are not move-in ready, so owners would have to start renovating on day one. Which is taking money directly out of their pockets, which minimal ways to finance it. Half a house-type project should at least start with an acceptable base.
While I appreciate the idea of participatory design, as seen in Elemental's Half a House project, I can't help but question whether this approach is truly convenient for its inhabitants. However, one thing that is evident is that these units are built with affordability in mind and are ready to be occupied, allowing residents to improve their living situation and build wealth without having to relocate. It would be interesting to hear from the residents themselves to better understand the benefits and drawbacks of this design approach.
ReplyDeleteParticipatory design is sadly a tough thing to do in the capitalist economy of the U.S. When I worked in multifamily in Atlanta for a couple years, we had to work with marketing firms that weren't even headquartered in the city to design units that would be marketable to a diverse group of potential buyers, giving plenty of options in square footage and layout types, giving this acceptable base you write about.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a good idea, however I agree that it probably would not work in the US. These units would be purchased almost immediately, turned in to rental properties, would no longer be affordable, and would no longer be adaptable to change until they are resold. In the event that they are changed, their value would increase to reflect that. It does not take long for the market to turn affordable in to luxury.
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