Spatial Flexibility: Redefining Middle Class Urban Housing Communities through a Modular Solution for Seattle’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood.

Abstract

This thesis will first look at the basic case for flexible housing design, both for spatial efficiency and accommodating different family structures beyond the 20th-century nuclear definition. In addition, this thesis will explore how urban housing could benefit from accommodating different family structures and stages, by increasing social dependency and sharing resources and services. This approach would not only contribute to lowering long term housing costs, but also have tremendous effect on resident wellness. It has been linked that the cause of early onset dementia was due to lack of physical and social interaction with other people of varying ages. This thesis integrates concepts of spatial flexibility to promote healthy family communities with long term affordability to create a housing typology in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, providing additional dwelling options not currently available.