The 880 Square Foot House: A small residential design that transforms to accommodate multiple ...

132 Pages·2015·10.81 MB·English

by  Adrianne Wimberley Kautz

Florida State University Libraries
Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School
2011
The 880 Square Foot House: A Small
Residential Design That Transforms to
Accommodate Multiple Household Types
Adrianne Wimberley Kautz
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THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF VISUAL ARTS, THEATER AND DANCE

THE 880 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE:
A SMALL RESIDENTIAL DESIGN THAT TRANSFORMS TO ACCOMMODATE
MULTIPLE HOUSEHOLD TYPES

By

ADRIANNE WIMBERLEY KAUTZ

A Thesis submitted to the
College of Visual Arts, Theater and Dance
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Masters of Fine Arts

Degree Awarded:
Summer Semester, 2011
The members of the committee approve the thesis of Adrianne Wimberley Kautz defended on
June 30, 2011.

___________________________________
Eric A. Wiedegreen
Professor Directing Thesis

___________________________________
Marlo Ransdell
Committee Member

___________________________________
Lisa K. Waxman
Committee Member

Approved:

_____________________________________
Eric A. Wiedegreen, Chair, Interior Design

_____________________________________
Sally McRorie, Dean, College of Visual Arts, Theater and Dance
The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members.
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To my husband, Aaron, and our beautiful daughter, Addison Frances:
Our little family will always be my proudest achievement.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This process would not have been possible without the support of my family and friends.
I am especially thankful for Marisol, Melissa, and Fran, who cared for Addison as if she were
their own child; for Jessie, my faithful friend and supporter who showed me the light at the end
of the tunnel; and for Mandy, my constant cheerleader and enthusiastic editor. Words will never
be enough to express my gratitude.
I am also grateful for the direction and support extended to me by my committee, both
academically and personally. Dr. Lisa Waxman and Dr. Marlo Ransdell were always available to
answer my questions about research and programming, and were also role models for me as
accomplished women and mothers. Finally, I am especially thankful for the guidance of my
committee chair, Professor Eric Wiedegreen: without your persistent encouragement and faith in
me and my abilities, I never would have been able to complete this process.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ ix
Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... xii
1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................1
The Problem ............................................................................................................................1
Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................2
Design Opportunity and Justification ......................................................................................2
Goals of the Project .................................................................................................................3
Limitations of the Study ..........................................................................................................4
Definition of Terms .................................................................................................................4
Research Components .............................................................................................................6
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ..................................................................................................7
Introduction .............................................................................................................................7
Housing ....................................................................................................................................7
Interdisciplinary Nature of Housing ..............................................................................7
Housing as shelter ..............................................................................................7
Housing and psychology ....................................................................................9
Housing and culture .........................................................................................10
Housing and family composition .....................................................................11
Housing and architecture .................................................................................12
Homeownership .....................................................................................................................14
Benefits of Homeownership ........................................................................................15
Barriers to Homeownership .........................................................................................17
Income..............................................................................................................17
Affordability ....................................................................................................17
Availability ......................................................................................................18
Housing Trends in the United States .....................................................................................19
Development Density...................................................................................................19
Early America ..................................................................................................19
Urbanization .....................................................................................................20
Suburbanization ...............................................................................................22
New Urbanism .................................................................................................24
House Size ...................................................................................................................25
The Small House ..............................................................................................28
Precedent Studies ...................................................................................................................33
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................37
3. THE PROGRAM ...................................................................................................................38
Introduction ...........................................................................................................................38
Project Description ................................................................................................................38
Existing Site Conditions ........................................................................................................39
Social, Psychological, and Economic Context ......................................................................43
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Social............................................................................................................................43
Psychological ...............................................................................................................43
Economic .....................................................................................................................45
Client Profiles, Philosophy and Goals ...................................................................................45
Individuals Living Alone .............................................................................................46
Persons Living with Non-Related Individuals .............................................................46
Couples Living Together .............................................................................................47
Families with Children .................................................................................................48
Dwelling Type and Style .......................................................................................................48
Types of Construction and Materials ....................................................................................48
Codes and Regulations ..........................................................................................................49
Universal Design ..........................................................................................................49
Energy Conservation and Green Design Issues .....................................................................50
Analysis of Individual Space Requirements ..........................................................................50
Design Criteria .......................................................................................................................53
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................54
4. THE PROPOSED DESIGN ..................................................................................................55
Introduction ...........................................................................................................................55
Site Decisions and Building Orientation ...............................................................................55
Preliminary Design Development .........................................................................................57
The Design Concept ..............................................................................................................59
Proposed Fixtures and Finishes .............................................................................................61
Proposed Design of the Exterior ............................................................................................62
Exterior Sustainability .................................................................................................62
Exterior Accessibility ...................................................................................................63
Proposed Design of the Interior .............................................................................................63
Accessibility .................................................................................................................65
Transforming Features .................................................................................................65
Bathrooms ....................................................................................................................69
Kitchen .........................................................................................................................76
Living Area ..................................................................................................................81
Dining Area ..................................................................................................................85
Bedrooms .....................................................................................................................87
Office Areas .................................................................................................................92
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................93
5. CONCLUSION .....................................................................................................................94
Goals of the Project ...............................................................................................................95
Implications for Further Research .........................................................................................97
Summary ................................................................................................................................97

APPENDICES ...............................................................................................................................98
Appendix A: Precedent Studies Table of Information ..........................................................98
Appendix B: City of Tallahassee R-3 Zoning Requirements ................................................99
Appendix C: Principles of Universal Design ......................................................................100
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Appendix D: Design Criteria by Room ...............................................................................103
Appendix E: Four Proposed Floor Plans .............................................................................107
Appendix F: ADA Bathroom Design 1 ...............................................................................109
Appendix G: ADA Bathroom Design 2 ..............................................................................110
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................111

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .......................................................................................................119

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LIST OF TABLES
2.1 Demographic breakdown of households by type as of the 2000 Census ..............................12

3.1 A comparison of household types and appropriate design solutions ....................................45

3.2 An amenities calculation based on the presence of features within the precedents ..............51

3.3 Programming of square footage requirements for all four solutions .....................................52

3.4 Programming of furniture requirements for all four solutions ..............................................52

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LIST OF FIGURES
2.1 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. ................................................................................................9

2.2 Side elevation of a typical Cracker style house .....................................................................14

2.3 A recreated version of the Plymouth Colony as it existed in 1627 .......................................20

2.4 A tenement building in the Lower East Side, New York City, 1927 ....................................21

2.5 A portion of Levittown, NY, as built in 1948 from an aerial view .......................................23

2.6 An area of Seaside, Florida ...................................................................................................25

2.7 An example of a “McMansion” .............................................................................................26

2.8 A classic California Bungalow, circa 1910 ...........................................................................28

2.9 A house plan published by ASHSB .......................................................................................30

2.10 A 1958 advertisement for Levittown, New Jersey ................................................................31

2.11 The interior of the original “Not So Big House” ...................................................................32

2.12 The custom banquette in the “East Village” precedent .........................................................34

2.13 The murphy bed in the “Core Residence” precedent .............................................................34

2.14 Sliding walls in the “Domestic Transformer” precedent .......................................................35

2.15 The tub / guest bed in the “Domestic Transformer” precedent .............................................36

2.16 The kitchen in the “Domestic Transformer” precedent .........................................................36

3.1 A map showing the location of 212 Parkbrook Circle, Tallahassee, FL ................................40

3.2 A street-level map of Park Brook Crossing Subdivision, Phase 6 ...........................................41

3.3 Typical developments located off of Park Avenue ..................................................................41

3.4 The project site as currently built .............................................................................................42

3.5 The site with the current building as seen from the street .......................................................42

3.6 A diagram of how five household types form the basis of the four solutions .........................44

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