Abstract
Human existence is increasingly characterized by the built environments we inhabit. The homes we live in are traditionally built to service the needs of their human inhabitants, often neglecting their interaction with the larger environments they are situated in. Housing is a major contributor to the advancement of climate change, which poses an existential threat to all organisms on Planet Earth. Throughout their lifespans, housing uses massive amounts of energy and materials and produce significant waste. Although there is a field dedicated to developing sustainable architecture and housing, those buildings are inaccessible to the general public due to their pricing. Therefore, there is a need for housing that is both affordable and sustainable. To test the feasibility of this issue, this project aims to create a proof-of-concept situated in Wooster, Ohio. This proof-of-concept design takes direction from the fields of Biomimicry, Biophilic Design, Earthship Design, Prefabrication, and incorporates insights from interviews conducted with people living in Earthships to identify the best accessible design options from a variety of fields. Biomimicry and Biophilic Design are well established fields within the study of sustainable design while Earthships are a more radical approach to sustainable housing. By interviewing residents of Earthships to understand what makes these homes appealing and what might make them distasteful to traditional homeowners. The final design is a modular, prefabricated sustainable home which is affordable by the standards of Wooster, OH. This model was developed with the intention of creating an attractive home, that integrates considerations of its environmental impact while being simple to purchase, assemble, and live in. This study provides a view of sustainable housing that is both foundational in theory and informative towards future projects.
Advisor
Clayton, Susan
Second Advisor
Siewert, John
Department
Art and Art History; Environmental Studies
Recommended Citation
Mynard, Jennifer Teare, "A Home for People and Planet: Assessing the Feasibility of Sustainable Affordable Housing by Designing a Proof-of-Concept" (2023). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 10740.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/10740
Disciplines
American Art and Architecture | Environmental Design
Keywords
Sustainable Housing, Architecture, Earthships, Biomimicry, Biophilic Design
Publication Date
2023
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2023 Jennifer Teare Mynard