Putting the Family back in Multi-family: Reconnecting Urban Density and Family Housing in North Seattle

Abstract

As Seattle has densified, the rapid growth of housing has been focused primarily on units suited for individuals rather than units suited for families. In many cases, family-oriented units have been converted to single-occupancy units, creating a problematic spatial infrastructure that will hamper the ability of young, single newcomers to remain in the city if and when they decide to start families and raise children. The divorce between density and family housing must be addressed as Seattle continues to grow, and it must go beyond simply adding more bedrooms to bigger units. This thesis explores the physical, social, and cultural amenities of single-family housing and the needs of families with children living in cities to propose a hybrid approach to high-density family housing that fosters the life of families in the city. Using the North Seattle neighborhood of Aurora-Licton Springs as a ground for inquiry, this thesis imagines a denser Seattle that supports families with children and allows them to be integrated into the urban environment.