Re-Defining the "Cookie-Cutter" Development: Designing the Home Through Adjustable Architecture

• Main Author: Koslow, Alexander L
• Format: Others
• Published: ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst 2012
• Subjects: Adjustable Architecture; Cookie-Cutter Development; Flexible Home; Architecture
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/867; https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1980&context=theses

This thesis seeks to explore the architectural transformation of residential space for changes and adjustments as we find our lifestyles altering. With the understanding that change is often unpredictable, we must be prepared for adaptations to new and revised living environments. Change appears in many ways: marriage or cohabitation, having children, empty nesting, aging, caring for elder family members, illness, and death. Too often we design our homes for the present, with little thought of future needs. Universal and adjustable design must become an everyday part of an architectʼs repertoire when embarking on new projects with their clients. Even architects, working on “cookie cutter” projects, must bring a more sustainable approach to their designs. Taking a closer look on said "cookie cutter” projects, adjustable design must start from a broader spectrum, beyond the site, focusing on the development as a whole and its connection with its infrastructure. Within a community, camaraderie and conversation are major factors in the success of a residential development. The central focus of this paper will be the architectural adjustability of the home.