Residential Alterations Adaptability and Flexibility: Preconditions for Social Sustainability?

Transcription

1 Residential Alterations Adaptability and Flexibility: Preconditions for Social Sustainability? Abstract The second demographic transition is now taking place in contemporary societies resulting in profound changes in the population structure. This creates huge challenges for societies to develop residential solutions for a sustainable urban future. The housing shortage creates limited options of choice for many residents. Today these residents lack the possibility to adapt their homes for their everyday needs. Possibilities for life- style realizations and the individual s influence on their own residence are almost completely lost. On the housing market the residence is considered a commercialized lifestyle question and a commodity. Therefore, today we can assume that there is a wide gap between articulated or potential consumer preferences and contemporary housing offers provided on the market. This study examines the particular impact of flexible housing as a potential agent for long term social sustainability issues in residential practice. The applied methods aim at linking life situations with spatial structures. The research includes a series of case studies comprising floor plan analyses confronted with the household s own narratives of their residential situation. The theoretical point of departure for the analyses is the ongoing demographic changes and concepts of social sustainability in residential situations. Recently initiated case studies explore the household s living situation as affected by floor plan layout limitations and the lack of living space. It can be questioned whether basic residential qualities are at all attained for selected groups of inhabitants. A conclusion drawn is that there is a need to address questions of every- day life of residents, reflecting such issues as diversity and process regarded as major preconditions for residential designs. The development of contemporary housing provided by the market calls for more sustainable residential design inventions in order to meet future demands of urban sustainability. Keywords: residential situations, living situations, life styles, demographic transition, social sustainability, floor plan analyses, urban futures Anna Braide Eriksson, PhD Candidate, Architect SAR/MSA School of Architecture, Modern & Residential Architecture Chalmers University of Technology e- mail: anna.braide.eriksson@chalmers.se Date: PhD Thesis Supervisor: Professor Sten Gromark, CIB W069 Co- Coordinator, SRE Architecture in Effect 1

2 Contents Abstract p 1 Contents p 2 1. Introduction p 3 2. Research Design p 7 3. Results p 8 4. Discussion p References p Appendix p I - XI Case study 1 The households living situation Overview floor plans Analyse of floor plans Summery of analysis Case study 2 / Work in progress The households living situation 2

3 1.Introduction 1 Experience from earlier own performed surveys of residential practice imply that contemporary residential design offer poor adaptability for every day life situations (Nylander & Braide Eriksson, 2009, 2011). Residents lack the possibility to adapt their homes for their everyday needs. For example the single mother who need to rent one room out to handle her economy. Or the two friends who shared their apartment, needing one good- sized room each. An innovative example from the survey is two divorced parents merging two apartments to let the children have their own rooms and not have to move every other week. 2 This survey examines the particular impact of flexible housing as a potential agent for long term social sustainability issues in residential practice. The work departure from the contemporary residential situation in Sweden but can also, in many aspects, be representative of the state of residential situation and residential practice in other parts of Europe. The survey comprises units in multifamily housing in context of the on going urbanisation. The latest people- and housing survey we have had in Sweden was in Since then the population has increased, the immigration brings new cultures and traditions into our country and we have demographic changes and new family structures. Despite this the residential design today is mainly performed with the same rules and regulations as it was forty years ago and the design of the residences of today is also very much similar to the ones designed forty years ago (Lindén 2008, p. 2). Therefore, today we can presume that there is a wide gap between accelerating diversity in articulated consumer preferences and appropriate diversity of offers on the housing market. Providers have difficulties to produce appropriate offers of long- term resident s resilience enabling processes of aspired enhanced cultural identification and adaptability countering different life situations. This paper starts off with conditions for flexible housing and social sustainability in this survey. Other points of departure are the demographic transition and situations on the housing market, objectives affecting emerging conditions of the residential situation today. A central subject is also the capacity of residential floor plan design, concerning issues of adaptability for every day life. The floor plan design of existing residences can be regarded as a base for possible, qualitative, living situations. The significance of these objectives is presented below. Flexible Housing The book Flexible Housing (Schneider & Till, 2007) constitutes a basic background for the work, presenting a broad submission of the subject flexible housing. Issues referred to in this work are the design of today s residences and how it retroacts with the household in every- day- life also the issue of the demographic transition, regarded as a substantial precondition for the design of residential space. 1 Acknowledgement: This paper is part of a PhD licentiate thesis project affiliated to the research project Positive Footprint Housing, a research project in cooperation between Chalmers University of Technology, Riksbyggen EF and Johanneberg Science Park. Riksbyggen, a large housing developer in Sweden, wants to increase their knowledge of sustainability issues in the field of housing for implementation in a residential experimental project on Chalmers campus. The research project shall embrace questions of economical, ecological and social sustainability for housing. 2 See Case study 2, Appendix p X 3

4 In the history of flexible housing three key drivers can be identified to influence the development, the first one in the 1920 s as a response to needs for mass housing to solve European social housing programmes. The second started in the and was a belief that prefabrication and technical solutions was the answer to mass housing provision, it is still a part of today s housing market. The third was a user involvement movement in the 1960 s, the renewed interest in flexible housing was its capacity of providing user choice, making ideal that the own residence should provide a freedom in ways of residing (Schneider & Till 2007, p. 15). Habraken, a Dutch architect, represents one of the luminaries from this movement, both working with mass housing in architecture practice and developing theoretical works on the subject of mass housing and user participation. Netherlands still practice a heritage partly sprung from these years. In Sweden both the second and third drive for flexible housing has left marks in the housing stock. Västra Orminge by Curman Architects, a flexible- housing project, is a result of the prefabrication era. In Gothenburg Däckshuset in Kallebäck by architect Erik Friberger and Experimenthuset in Järnbrott by architects William- Olsson both represents the prefabrication drive and the user participation belief. Today examples of flexible housing are rare, but there are interesting examples. The French architects Lacaton and Vassal works with raw space in housing projects, promoting large space for living combined with rational materials and constructions to cut costs. (Gromark, 2013) In Chile, Iquique, the architects Elemental has worked with social sustainability, designing a new housing area for a whole neighbourhood with user participation as a precondition. Tila housing by Talli Oy Architects in Finland, Helsinki, is another recently produced flexible housing project providing raw space with user involvement. All these recent flexible housing projects have been working with social aspects on living as one important precondition for sustainability. These different presented tracks for flexible housing also presents a wide scope on definitions of flexible housing. Groak (1992, see Schneider & Till 2007, p. 5) defines the term flexible housing as housing that can adjust to changing patterns and needs, both social and technological. The changes might be demographic, economic or environmental patterns or personal for example losing a job, divorcing or having a child. The definition is deliberately broad, it includes potential to make changes prior to occupation as well as the ability to adjust one s home over time. He describes the two notions of flexible housing as adaptability and flexibility. Adaptability is the capability of hosting different social uses, achieved through designing rooms or units so that they can be used in a variety of ways. Flexibility is the capability to host different physical arrangements and is achieved through altering the physical fabric of the building, for example joining together rooms or sliding or folding walls. This survey practice this definition of flexible housing and also use the flexibility and adaptability notions when analysing floor plans. Social Sustainability Social sustainability can be described as two status, conditions and processes. Different geographical and temporal scales as well as situational contexts require their own frameworks, which do not necessarily provide a coherent picture, but a mosaic of partly contradicting views on reality. (Lethonen 2004, see Boström 2012, p. 5). This means that values for social sustainability are situational and cannot be understood as general. Definitions of social sustainability issues for this work are resumed on Boströms article A Missing Pillar (2012, p. 6). From these definitions goals that can connect to residential life and process are assembled to constitute a base for social sustainability values in this survey. The values are listed below. 4

5 Substantial aspects: What social sustainability goals to achieve? o o o o o o o o o Recreation and self- realization Inter- and intra- generational justice along gender, race, class and ethnicity dimensions Safety, economical and environmental Sense of community attachment, belonging, and identity Cultural diversity and traditions Social recognition Social cohesion, inclusion and interaction Attractive housing and public realm Quality in life, happiness and wellbeing The definitions can represent general goals to accomplish, but they are still defined from an existing context and therefore dissimilar answers can constitute the response to the same goal (Boström 2012). How do characteristics for flexible residences respond to conditions of social sustainability? The features for adaptable or flexible residences are lifted forward by Schneider and Till (2007). They describe housing as an object to cyclic changes, involving different situations in life for the single household and, during extended time, for different situations for a diverse amount of households. Flexible housing also induces user participation. Involving the resident in the process of usability and own adaptions over time in the residence. This means that flexible housing can be seen as an agent for user involvement but also for acceptation of demographic change and thus a stabiliser for communities. Demographic Changes The second demographic transition comprise mortality decline, urban growth and urbanization, fertility decline and an aging population (Dyson 2012, p.9), there is also a trend towards a larger group of small households (SCB 2012). The nuclear family that has been seen as the standard household has undertaken changed formations and cohabitation are becoming more common. European countries have experienced a shift from uniform to pluralistic households and growing importance of childless living arrangements. Examples are one- person households, childless couples, unrelated others sharing a flat, one- parent households and step- families. Another trend is less stable arrangements, households in a constant state of flux. Individuals are shifting from one living arrangement to another several times during their life course. These households cannot be seen as new but they differ from earlier period concerning quantity, societal significance and social acceptance (Haase et al. 2011, p ). These are sometimes described as non- traditional and non- conventional households; the term pluralistic households will be used to describe these groups from no on. The Housing Market The Swedish housing market today is ruled by the belief that ways of residing are a commercialized life- style- question. Kitchen and bathroom designs are objects defining the good residence and base values as a comfortable, esthetic and well functional living space is not a priority. Residential need is understood as potential buyers demands, within the liberal market (Manum 2006, p. 15). The production of residences represents the demands from a purchase- group and the other households are directed to remaining residences. The typical new produced apartment is well suited for primarily young couples, singles and older couples, leaving their villa (Manum 2006, p. 182). For the households not buying their residence the housing shortage implies difficulties finding one. Possibilities of choosing a specific urban district, size, room- configuration or standard of Your residence is not a common option. Social networks, safety, schools and daycare constitutes a 5

6 preferred every day continuity and can be regarded as crucial to many people. These issues can be difficult to maintain under the circumstances. Instead the term relocation- link has become the standard procedure to provide residents with new homes. The procedure means that these households become new residents in the left- over- residences from the purchase- group. The housing shortage leaves little room for a considered fit of the left residences. The choice can be between a bad fit or no residence at all. This situation enhances the question of the left- over- residences capability for hosting different households. Contemporary Residential Design There is a wide amount of literature discussing home and dwelling. To dwell can be described as a dynamic process. Johansson and Saarikangas (2009, p.19) describes homemaking as a spatial and temporal process: Home is simultaneously both a place- bounded anchor and a spatially open structure that changes over time. It is a meeting place of inhabitants, culture, past and present a multidimensional spatial and temporal intersection. There is often also a clear distinction made between the notion home as a social space and the physical space we live in, the residence. Still dwelling can be described as a process and the physical space hosting the process can interact with our needs for space. From this perspective the residence is a space hosting a process. The residential design in Sweden and its rules and regulations is very much the same as it was forty years ago (Lindén 2008, p. 2) meanwhile the demographic transition constitutes a total change of household types. Experiences from my own work as practicing architect shows that the rules and regulations and the size of the residence constitutes a regulating frame in the design work with floor plans. The floor plan area is minimized to reduce costs and current rules and regulations fulfilment becomes the standards for room- sizes. Spaces are designed down to their absolute limits of their designated functions, often determined through furniture layouts and with the nuclear family as a starting point for the design. Schneider and Till describes this as a tight- fit- functionalism: a room that can only be used for its preconceived purpose (2007, p 36). Residences are also designed for one type of household, the nuclear family. Long- term considerations concerning living situations for diverse households and future adaptability are almost completely lost as a departure for the design work. Contemporary trends also points towards smaller residences with decreased floor areas and room sizes and a larger focus on functionality (Manum 2006, p ). This contemporary residential design leads to less usability for a larger group of households on the contemporary housing market today and in the future. Comments from households in earlier surveys of residential practice: Interview with single mother with one child and one tenant: - For me it was important to stay in the same neighbourhood as my daughter has started her preschool here and she has her friends here. This area is very familiar, it is a mix of people regarding age and many families with children, we also have two preschools, so this area is well supplied. Preschool and school is situated quite close, it is only a few minutes walk from here and it s a peaceful area. Interview with parents with five children (parents are from Nairobi and India): - There s no room for all of us, we don t know how to furnish. Often we shackle the furniture around here and there to see where it fits, we try to find a good solution. We also shift the children s rooms - if they can live here or there. All the time there is on going alternatives of furnishing./.../ (about the rooms) very small. Very, very small. We have one bathroom and there is always a queue to the bathroom. And they shout, - Me first, me first..., it s very tiring. 6

7 2. Research Design Aim The prime objective of the licentiate project is to study the question of residential flexibility as an aspect of social sustainability. The conditions for social sustainability discussed will comprise temporal scales, both the individual- and urban scale, as well as situational contexts. A goal is to make visible affects of flexible design in residential living situations from the perspective of social sustainability. The flexible residence will be analyzed in comparison to a contemporary residence. Thus the question of contemporary housings adaptability to diverse households and living situations accompany the question of flexibility and social sustainability. Material 1. Interviews and floor plans from earlier study of residential practice 2. Floor plans from flexible housing projects 3. Selected, contemporary floor plans exemplifying interesting types of floor plan layouts 4. Demographic statistics 5. Theory base, see literature 6. Master students projects from research by design Frames The work takes its departure from the contemporary residential situation in Sweden. The term residence comprises units in multi family housing in an urban environment. The study relates to Swedish housing conditions and current rules and regulations for housing. The on- going demographic transitions constitute a starting point in the survey. Floor plans represent earlier and contemporary, flexible and not flexible residences from the Swedish housing stock. Criteria for selection are similarity in floor area. Floor plans are randomly picked and represent a subjective choice but are also considered regular representatives of the housing stock. There are two perspectives analyzed, the floor plans impact on the living- situation for the resident and societal effects as consequences of the residential situation. Method The existing research field on residential practice and flexible housing tends to lift forward their issues in broad perspectives (e.g., Leupen, 2006; Friedmann, 2002). The statistics often deliver large scopes of information on an overview level. The detailed living situation for the household is not often addressed. Some examples are Duelund Mortensen et al. (2004, 2005) The identified gap in the research field, the residential designs interference with the household s living situation, is an important issue when measuring the functions of every day life in the residence. Emphasising the living situation for the resident in a close view provide subjective insight and can facilitate reflexions on social values. Case studies conducts a small scale, exploratory, and descriptive study, based on a series of floor plan designs where the residences capacity to adapt to the household s living situation, from the perspective of social sustainability, are reflected. Starting point for each case study projects the households living situation. Households analysed relates to the group of pluralistic households, being an increasing group with the demographic transition. 7

8 To study the capacity of flexibility the case study compares different types of floor plan layouts. The perspective of the residence being a space hosting a process is also considered a significant factor in the flexibility assignment. In each case study the floor plans therefore represents the contemporary floor plan, the flexible floor plan and also the floor plan designed to enhance the process of residing. This floor plan is conducted with research by design in studio- work with master students (Master course 2012, 2013). The master students design floor plans embracing the residential practice as an on going process wherein changes in life situations is a natural condition and not necessarily a cause for moving. Case study Starting point for each case study is a residential living situation, material is collected from earlier studies of residential practice (Nylander & Braide Eriksson, 2009, 2011). The households living situation is presented with comments from interviews and floor plan of the residence, projecting the living situation. The adaptability and the fit of the residence is analysed and requests for residential space is reflected. Each case study comprises a series of floor plans, defined above. In the analyses each floor plan is stipulated host for the household. The analyses practice the three terms flexible space, general space and private and public space as tools for estimating adaptability in the floor plans. These terms represent essential functions generating usability in floor plan configurations. The terms are defined below. General space: Nylander describes the general room as a quadratic room possible of hosting many different situations (2007, p ). The general room is common in Swedish vernacular housing tradition; it is also present in contemporary housing projects. Contemporary Swedish architects Engstrand and Speek works with the general room as a guarantee for a more adaptable space in the resident. The size of the general room varies but measure about 3.6 meters. The general room is also mentioned by Schneider and Till (2007, p. 5) but described as adaptability, rooms or units that can be used in a variety of ways. From now on the term general space is used. Private and public space: Nylander use the term to define space in the zoned floor plan, one of the typologies he describes (2007, p ). Private space is defined as sleeping rooms, public space as the rooms for socializing, meaning living room and kitchen. From now on the term private and public space is used Flexible space: Groak defines flexible space as space that can host different physical arrangements. Flexibility is achieved through altering the physical fabric of the building, for example joining together or dividing rooms, or sliding or folding walls (1992, see Schneider & Till 2007, p. 5). From now on the term flexible space is used. 3. Results In the case study concluding issues of social sustainability connected to the flexible residence reflects two perspectives: the floor plans impact on the living- situation for the resident and societal effects of the residential situation. For the resident, needs for private space, a personal choice and attachment, continuity and safety concludes social values representing sustainability. Societal effects, observable on an urban scale, relates to questions of stable and safe housing areas, constituting one important agent for continuity and identity in a sustainable society. The results of analyses are summarized 8

9 below. Issues also made visible through the floor plan analysis is the significance of measures and of living space, they are discussed below. Reflections on flexible and adaptable space as a precondition for social sustainability for this single case study are also presented. Requested Space The households need for space is defined as three bedrooms and a zoned plan providing well defined private and public space. Floor plan B and D (flexible- and general floor plan) can in different ways fulfil the requested bedrooms. The total request with three bedrooms and private and public space is only attained in one floor plan (floor plan B), resulting in two small bedrooms and one bedroom with a more acceptable size. The floor plans support needs for private space, which can be regarded as a possibility for recreation and a quality in life (Boström 2012, p 6). These floor plans supply better possibilities for the household to manage a living situation than the other two. The floor plans A and C (original- and contemporary floor plan) cannot present any additional bedrooms. Floor plan C has a zoned plan with private and public space. In this situation the parent would not be able to have a tenant to solve the situation. Significance of Measures In floor plan A (original floor plan) analysis detected that comparably small alterations, added floor area of four sqm and daylight, could provide a flexible use of the residence. The economical investments required, if included from start in the original construction, can be considered small in comparison of the impact it would have on living situations for many households over the time span of the housing. Living Space The household has a lack of living space. Needing three bedrooms implies the need to look for another residence. A necessary reflection is whether the three bedroom- request can be reasonably solved within the existing floor area or if the attempt is unfeasible when relating to the standards for living that rules and regulations advocate. The analyses show that the disposition of space is essential for the usability of the floor plan. Room sizes vary depending on floor area and the number of requested rooms and their relations. The analyse, combining three bedrooms, living room, bathroom and kitchen on sqm investigates the capacity of flexibility but also produce additional units to the existing space, implying and promoting lesser space for living. This can, if not observed, lead to inadequate floor plans delivering a minimal, and not qualitative, space for living. Flexible and Adaptable Space as a Precondition for Social Sustainability The analysis of an original floor plan and a floor plan representing a flexible design with similar floor area shows that the flexible floor area can supply possible solutions to the misfit which is not obtained by the contemporary and original floor plan. This implies that a flexible floor plan can mean the possibility for the resident to change their living situation. Flexible floor plans support needs for private space, which can be regarded as a human right and a quality in life. Also possibilities of alternative configurations imply the resident s possibility of making personal choice regarding room sizes and floor plan layout. From the interview the parent describes the importance of the local residential block and the local district as an important arena for every day life and activities as daycare and schools. For them this represents continuity and safety in a living situation. This also makes an argument not to solve the misfit by moving to a residence in another part of the city at the same time due to the housing shortage conditions for finding a better residence in the area are not obvious. From a societal viewpoint, the community s perspective, stable and safe housing areas, with little relocation, can be one important agent for continuity and identity in a sustainable society. 9

10 4. Discussion The following discussion reflects upon flexible and adaptable residential space as an agent for social sustainability. The notion of social sustainability as a situational construction, setting its own framework for each individual situation means that one precise value, generally applicable, cannot be attained. Instead every contextual situation sets values for social sustainability. If space can be an agent for social sustainability the specific living situation must thus be understood as situationally conditioned and not as generally valid. Space as an agent for social sustainability in residential space can thus be regarded as a potential asset. Subjective evaluations of residential space obstruct a general conclusion to the question of flexibility and adaptability as preconditions for social sustainability. Traditional residential patterns in Sweden and the conventional employment of space as rooms, and the function of rooms in the residence, constitute the point of departure for the survey. This can be seen as a generalization of space in the residence but also as relating to our residential heritage and former experiences of space. Space defined in other ways, as well as individual preferences concerning space in the residence, is thereby not pushed forward. This means that the conventional survey does not reflect these needs, leaving a broad field unrevealed and unexplored. The average residence can be seen as a potential agent for social sustainability if it is capable of providing for example recreation, self- realization, belonging, identity and safety. The flexible residence can have the same potential. It is likely that flexible solutions can provide these goals for a larger diversity of households. The residence can be regarded as an asset that needs to be constructed and maintained as an important unit in the urban fabric and designed to achieve an optimized possible usability to enhance a residential recreation process. During the lifetime span for a housing project a number of households with different living situations will pass through the built structure. The ongoing and profound demographic transition implies a shift from uniform to pluralistic households. If flexible housing has a better capacity to host a larger variety of households this will produce social sustainability also on an urban scale, implying less in and out moving households and possibilities of fostering a stable and safe neighbourhood. The practice of flexibility and adaptability as a condition for residential design alongside other regulations would need however some precautions. The misfit in a residence is often the result of a too small floor area or a disposition of the room configuration. Flexible or adaptable floor plans enabling alterations to living situations within the same floor area can solve difficult living situations for the household. At the same time the question of flexibility creating additional rooms on a limited space can easily promote and legitimate lack of living space if not treated with caution. The residence that supply one or two extra rooms is not likely to be rated as a misfit. Very often the resident disposing extra rooms adapt to the room configuration without questioning the usability. Architects Lacaton and Vassal work with the concept of large space as flexible space. They work with reducing costs on construction and materials to make large residences affordable. They promote large residences with raw space as a concept and thus make the residents active in the floor plan design. Within the limited space they can adapt room sizes and room configurations to their own need. (Gromark, 2013) Flexible space appears to be an interesting and workable agent for social sustainability. Further work can support or deny these preliminary conclusions drawn upon initial findings. 10

11 5. References Boström, M. (2012). A missing pillar? Challenges in theorizing and practical social sustainability: introduction to the special issue. I: Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy, 8:1 pp 3-14 Duelund Mortensen, P. et al. (2004). Boligen som vare. Arkitektur Dk, 8: pp 3-9 Duelund Mortensen, P. et al. (2005). Tid og rum i boligen. Arkitekten Dk, 15: pp 8-19 Dyson, T. (2012). Population and Development, the Demographic Transmission. London: Zed Books Friedmann, A. (2002) The Adaptable House. New York: McGraw- Hill Groak, S. (1992) The idea of Building: thought and action in the design and production of Buildings. London: E & FN Spon Gromark, S. (2013). 'A Case of Symbolic Transgression' NJA Nordic Journal of Architecture 'Alterations' Vol. 2 winter 2012 N o 3: pp: Haase, A. et al. (2011). Residential Change and Demographic Challenge. Farnham: Ashgate Publishing Limited Johansson, H. & Saarikangas, K (2009) Ambivalent Home. In Johansson, H & Saarikangas, K (Eds.) Homes in Transformation, Dwelling, moving, belonging. Helsinki: Finish Historical Society Leupen B. (2006) Frame and Generic Space. A Study into the Changeable Dwelling Proceeding from the Permanent. Rotterdam: 010 Publishers Lindén, A- L. (2008). Hushållens bostadsanvändning. Lunds universitet: Sociologiska institutionen Manum, B. (2006) Apartment Layouts and Domestic Life: The Interior Space and Its Usability a Study of Norwegian Apartments Built in the Period Oslo: Oslo School of Architecture and Design Nylander, O. & Eriksson, A. (2009). Så använder vi våra bostäder. Stockholm: AB Svensk Byggtjänst Nylander, O. & Braide Eriksson, A. (2011). Nya svenskar Så använder vi våra bostäder. Stockholm: AB Svensk Byggtjänst Nylander, O. (2007) Bostadens typologi, In Berger T. et al. Bostaden och kunskapen. Stockholm: Arkus SCB (2012). Bostads- och byggnadsstatistisk årsbok, tabell (Electronic) Available: ( ) Schneider, T. & Till, J. (2007). Flexible Housing. Oxford: Architectural Press, Elsevier Inc/Ltd Master course Master course Housing Inventions ( ) MPARC 136, Profile area Space and Activity, School of Architecture, Chalmers University of Technology, MPARC Master Design Research Studio Visions of Residential Futures 11

12 Housing projects Positive Footprint Housing Experimental Project, (2011- ), Göteborg, Sweden Cité Manifeste (2005) Mulhouse, France. Lacaton & Vassal Architects / Raw space duplex apartments Iquique Low Cost Housing (2004) Quinta Monroy, Chile. Elemental Architects / Townhouses Västra Orminge ( ) Orminge, Stockholm. Curman Architects / Flexible apartments Däckshuset i Kallebäck (1960) Göteborg, Sweden. Architect Erik Friberger / Townhouses on slab construction Experimenthuset I Järnbrott (1954) Göteborg, Sweden. Architects Anders and Tage William- Olsson from / Flexible apartments with movable walls Tila Apartment block (2011) Helsinki, Finland. Talli Architects / Raw space duplex apartments 12

13 Appendix / CASE STUDY 1 The householdes living situation / Residents: Single parent, one child 4 years, one tenant Apartment: Three rooms, 74 sqm The parent about moving: - Was it important to stay in the same neighbourhood? - For me it was important as my daughter has started her preschool here and she has her friends here. This area is very familiar, it is a mix of people regarding age and many families with children, we also have two preschools, so this area is well supplied. Preschool and school is situated quite close, it is only a few minutes walk from here and it s a peaceful area. The residence is a three room apartment. The parent has not enough income to live here but she prefers a three room apartment instead of a smaller one, one day she might be able to afford the apartment all alone. To solve the question she has a tenant. She describes the extra room as a quality- space, a room she can have as private space on small occasions when the tenant is out or in between tenants. The parent share the large bedroom with her daughter for sleeping. She has an extension bed that can be pulled out from under the daughter s bed. In daytime the room is functioning as the daughters own room. Here she has all her belongings. If she has friends at home they often play in this room. The mother can use the living room or the kitchen as a retreat in daytime. The tenant, a 21 year old student, have the small bedroom. Here she has a convertible and a small desk. There is not much room for storage. The tenant can also use the kitchen and the living room. This gives little space for privacy for the mother. The possibility to adapt the residence for well- functioning living conditions would add every- day life quality to the household. This would give the possibility to stay in the apartment and also to have continuity in the neighborhood. With social relations, daycare and school. Appendix I

14 Appendix / CASE STUDY 1 From interview with parent About the residence: - I did not want a two room apartment because it is good to have the small room as a spare room. I can read a book, take a breath or just be on my own in that extra room those periods I don t have a tenant. It is quality- time relaxing with a book. About having a tenant: - I think it has to do with what type of personality You are. I think it is ok having the bedrooms wall to wall. For me it does not matter. But You cannot always go by the living room if there is someone there About the neighbourhood: - Do You spend a lot of time in the courtyards? - Yes in spring and summer we spend almost all time out in the courtyards, having barbecues together with our neighbours. - You know the people living in this area? - Yes, I do. I know many of them and the children play a lot. I guess that this is the time in life when You associate, having small children playing. There are three families that we know well and spend a lot of time with. The households residential needs It is valuable for the parent to stay in the neighbourhood. Now she needs the extra income from the tenant to keep the apartment but she hopes to afford the rent all alone in the future. Everyday life right now means that she has no space of her own. The current situation, to maintain a fair standard of every day life, requests three bedrooms and a zoned plan providing well defined private and public space. Can the apartment adapt to these needs? Articulated aspects of Social Sustainability to bring forward in the analyze: o o Sense of community attachment, belonging, and identity Safety, economical and environmental Appendix II

15 CASE STUDY 1 / OVERVIEW FLOORPLANS A. B. C. D. Appendix III APARTMENT 74 sqm APARTMENT 72 sqm APARTMENT 78 sqm APARTMENT 78 sqm ORIGINAL FLOOR PLAN FLEXIBLE FLOOR PLAN CONTEMPORARY FLOOR PLAN RESEARCH FLOOR PLAN Floor plan from housing in Mölndal, Year of construction Floor plan from housing in Järnbrott, Year of construction New housing in Annedal was the focus for a housing exhibition in Floor plan from research by design in master course. Students working with flexibility and residing over a longer time spann, regarding residing as a process.

16 CASE STUDY 1 / ANALYZE / FLOOR PLAN A floor plan extended, new floor area 78 sqm Appendix IV APARTMENT 74 sqm Floor plan from housing in Mölndal, Year of construction Residents: Parent, one child 4 years, one tenant Analyze of floor plan using Flexible space, Private and public space. 1. No possibilities of new rooms fulfilling a preserved standard of space and daylight supply. 2. Enlarging floor plan to accomplish adaptability. With an expansion of floor area of 78 sqm and additional daylight (as wall face outdoor space - possibilities for new openings in facades), a flexible space is provided. Access Flexible space Private space Access to bathroom from large bedroom means crossing living room space. Private access to bathroom is not possible. Needed privacy when hosting a tenant is not supplied.

17 CASE STUDY 1 / ANALYZE / FLOOR PLAN B 1. APARTMENT 72 sqm Floor plan from housing in Järnbrott, Year of construction Residents: Parent, one child 4 years, one tenant 1. Possibilities of private rooms fulfilling a preserved standard of space and daylight supply for parent, child and tenant. Experimenthuset i Järnbrott was the result from a housing competition. The base unit is a raw space, movable walls accomplish rooms within a set configuration. Appendix V Analyze of floor plan using Flexible space, Private and public space Possibiliteis of two larger rooms fulfilling a preserved standard of space and daylight supply. One room is flexible (see fig 3). Access Flexible space Private space Flexible space is divided. Private space function parallell to shared space. Access from private space to bathroom through neutral hallway, not crossing kitchen or living room space.

18 CASE STUDY 1 / ANALYZE / FLOOR PLAN C APARTMENT 78 sqm Floor plan from housing in Annedal, Stockholm, Year of construction Residents: Parent, one child 4 years, one tenant New housing in Annedal was the focus for a housing exhibition in Appendix VI Analyze of floor plan using Flexible space, Private and public space. Access Flexible space Private space No possibilities of new rooms fulfilling a preserved standard of space and daylight supply (walls do not face outdoor space - no possibilities for new openings in facades). Access to bathroom from private space are crossing hallway, a neutral space. Private access to bathroom is possible.

19 CASE STUDY 1 / ANALYZE / FLOOR PLAN D APARTMENT 78 sqm Floor plan from research by design in master course. Students working with flexibility and residing over a longer time spann, regarding residing as a process. 1. Appendix VII Students: Ylva Frid, Sofia Wendel Residents: Parent, one child 4 years, one tenant The residence consist of general space for a flexible use. Measures of rooms are 3,6 m. Room space can extend out on balcony. One room, close to entrance, works separated to supply good space for tenant, teenager or small business - working space. Analyze of floor plan using Flexible space, Private and Possibilities of private rooms fulfilling a preserved standard of space and daylight supply for parent, child and tenant. Access to bathroom from lprivate space means crossing living room space. Private access to bathroom is not possible. Needed privacy when hosting a tenant is not supplied. Access Flexible space Private space 2. After ten years: tenant moves when residence is affordable for parent. Parent and teenager share living and teenager can have a more private space by the entrance. When teenager moves, possibilities for having a tenant remains.

20 Appendix / CASE STUDY 1 Table presenting results from analysis / side 1(2) Floor plan A Analyze of the original floor plan Floor plan B Analyze of a flexible floor plan Floor plan cannot provide any of the factors. Floor plan was possible to adapt to requested space in one configuration and also offered at least a second configuration presenting three bedrooms. Some of the bedrooms are small and can only host one bed and a small working desk. Space for storing in the residence is underdimensioned. Concluding floor plan analyse The residence is not possible to adapt to the residents needs. Small corrections of the existing floor plan, area growth by xx sqm and window, would make the residence a flexible space. These additives can be considered as small in comparence to benefits over time, regarding the possibilities to adapt to different living situations for different households. With the ongoing housing shortage abilities for finding a new residence with a superable rent can be difficult. The parent prefers to stay as the family has its social network, preschool and an identity in the area. From a societal viewpoint, the communitys perspective, stable and safe housing areas, with little relocation, can be one important agent for continuity and identity as one building block in a sustainable society. Viewing this from the perspective of attachment, identity and economical and environmental safety the residence does not support a tolerable living situation. The situation does not correspond to goals for social sustainability. Concluding floor plan analyze The residence admits a number of alternative configurations. Two different possible floor plan designs are presented that effectuate the needs for the household. One configuration also presents a solution to the question of private and public space implying living space with a durability hosting pluralistic households. Some of the rooms are small and not capable of admitting much more than a space for one bed and small working desk. Storage is not presented and can be estimated underdimensioned with valid standards. The analyze anticipates a possibility of diverse room combinations supporting different preferences and needs for the resident. Viewing this from the perspective of attachment, identity and economical and environmental safety, the flexibility amplifies the possibilities to solve a living situation and thus stay in the residence and in the neighbourhood. Appendix VIII

21 Appendix / CASE STUDY 1 Table presenting results from analysis / side 2(2) Floor plan C Analyze of a contemporary floor plan Floor plan D Analyze of a floor plan from master program project reflecting questions of residential processes Floor plan provide private and public space but cannot alter configuration. Floor plan present three general rooms, providing space for multiple use for all members of the household. The floor plan do not fulfil demands for private and public space. Concluding floor plan analyze The residence is not possible to adapt to the residents needs. An additional room cannot be effectuated. In this case there are no possibilities for corrections to add space as walls borders to other units. Floor plan presents a solution to the question of private and public space. This implies durability hosting pluralistic households and supply residing qualities. Viewing this from the perspective of attachment, identity and economical and environmental safety, the residence does not have the capacity to adapt to diverse living situations for different households. Overlooking a longer time span, the number of households and the number of fluctuating living situations will be several during the life time of the building. A number of these households will find the residence un- adaptable for their needs at the same time the contemporary conditions with a housing shortage leaves no alternatives to many residents. Possibilities for finding another residence are not obvious. Goals for social sustainability are not fulfilled. Concluding floor plan analyze The residence admits a flexible use of space. The general rooms offer possibilities of different living patterns. The size of the rooms admits relaxation and social interaction to take place in various space. Floor plan does not present a solution to the question of private and public space. This implies friction in pluralistic households, at the same time the room next to the entrance offer a qualitative space for a tenant, a teenager wanting more privacy or a small business- working space. The floor plans presented in the analyze visualize the household within a time span of ten years. Some of the shifting moments and needs in a living situation with the residence s adaptability to new situations are presented. The adaptability enhance possibilities for living longer in the residence. This can increase the residential stability in the area and enhance community attachment, belonging and identity. Appendix IX

22 Appendix / CASE STUDY 2 The householdes living situation / Residents: Single parent, three children age 3, 6, and 9 years Apartment: Three rooms, 35 sqm one week, 55 sqm other week The parent about divorcing and children splitting up from home: - We heard of apartments that You could split so that the children could stay in their rooms and not have to travel every other week. That means that the children don t have to split up from home when the parents divorce. We have brooded on how on earth do You accomplish that. How will it work with our lives here in Masthugget, because we have established here. We have friends and day care here and take part in a parents cooperative When the parents were divorced it was important for them that the children didn t have to be teared away from home and change living every other week. It was also important to stay in the same neighbourhood as their social life and childrens friends and schools were here. They had heard of a possible alternative; A housing were apartments easily could be altered and changed through adding or selling units to your next neighbor. They now live in this housing. The childrens rooms are situated in between parents apartments and can be shifted every other week. The two doors decides access to the relevant apartment, the door not used is locked that week. Apartments are small, 35 respective 55 sqm which not can be considered as an average floor area for a living of four, which is the case every other week. Although the parents are happy to be able to make an own choice and have the children stay in their own rooms and in the neighbourhood to keep their social network and the childrens daycare and schools. Appendix X

23 Appendix / CASE STUDY 2 From interview with parent About the future: - How will it work out if or when one of You meets a new partner? - I don t think that is topically for anyone of us right now, we ll see. Right now this provides a smooth change for the children, to come to realize and accept what is happening to all of us. It is also a question of the adaptability of the apartment. - It looks as You ve maid an optimal solution for this situation. If You look into the future, what would a new solution look like? Then I ll probably buy my neighbours 2- room apartment, he who lives above or next to me and make a fusion. It s good to know that there is the possibility, now we know many people here. And as soon as someone is moving rumours travel: - Well then I can buy that room and somebody else will buy the rest. Appendix XI