House versus Home

The Universal Need for Housing  Housing: any structure built for people to live in  Includes natural shelters, portable shelters and permanent shelters  People historically have always tried to create comfortable shelters for themselves and families

Shelters  Natural shelters: primitive people relied on the landscape for protection  Portable shelter: nomads (people who wander from place to place) put up a framework, then cover with grass or skins  Permanent shelters: built depending on the usable material of the area (earliest village built in Israel/Syria 8000 B.C.)

Community Distinction  When communities began to form in history, distinction in housing developed  As populations grew, people built cities  Center of the city: 2 story homes of the upper class  Homes were a symbol of wealth  Wealthy Chinese lived in stately wooden houses, the poor lived in mud huts or caves  As rich people gained possessions, they built homes on cliffs or mountain for protection

Comfortable Shelters  In earlier times many homes weren’t comfortable  Houses didn’t become comfortable until the Renaissance (Italy, 1300 AD)  Growth of middle class influenced housing during Renaissance

Housing to fit human needs  Physical needs: all the things the body needs to survive (air, sunlight, shelter, sleep, food)  Psychological needs: related to thoughts and emotions (love, belonging, fun, relaxation, comfort)  Housing that provides opportunities to meet psychological needs is more than a structure, it becomes a home.

What makes a HOME?  A house is a shelter  A home is comfortable  A home is the primary setting for the family  Housing provides a place for the family to live work and play together  Homes are personalized

Identity  Imagine a neighborhood where every house looks exactly the same  The sameness can be uninteresting  People like to personalize their homes  People’s tastes, values, attitudes, and personalities help form lifestyles

Identity  Housing meets the need to express personality  People choose housing and furnishings based on their likes and dislikes  People choose housing that reflects their values  One person might choose ultramodern and one person would choose traditional  Housing is a symbol of achievement (first apartment=independence)

Creativity  Is a psychological need  With a little imagination people can add a unique look to their homes  Don’t have to build a house to be creative  You can paint walls colorfully, coordinate furnishings, rearrange furniture, and add accessories  Housing provides space for hobbies and other creative outlets

Housing and Individual Needs  People move many times in their life  Changes in housing correspond to changes in a person’s life (new job, new city, new house)  Corresponds to the human life cycle (the stages of life from infancy to adult)  When people marry, they enter the “family life cycle”  Families go through many stages in their lives; often these stages correspond to housing choices and needs

Life Cycle Examples  Mike and Rosie get married, move into their first apartment (small, affordable place close to work)  Marie and Antonio have been married for 5 years and have a 3 year old son, they buy a house in a quiet neighborhood  Estella lives in an apartment next to a park with her 2 grandchildren  Andre and Dianna have grown children. They sell their 2 story house and move into a one story home  Sam is retired. He sells his house and moves into assisted living.

Your First Apartment  Think about your first apartment  What kinds of things would you like?  Where do you imagine the apartment?  Would you live there by yourself?

Special Housing Needs  Older people have difficulty living alone (need help cleaning, with meals, accidents)  By 2030, people over the age of 65 will account for 20% of the population  More people live past the age of 85  Retirement housing, assisted living, nursing homes  People with disabilities need comfortable, efficient housing  Some people with mental disabilities live in group living centers where they have assistance with daily care needs

Universal Design  Designing interiors and products to accommodate people of all needs and abilities  Acknowledges people are different sizes, ages, and abilities  Barrier-free design: living spaces designed with out structures to prevent access by people with special needs (without narrow hallways)  Adaptable design: can be easily changed (wheelchair ramp)

Challenges for Tomorrow  Create housing that is useful for the greatest number of people  Universal design  Make better housing available to low and middle income people  Improve social environment  Desperate need for good housing in the older low- income urban areas  Need for housing for senior citizens  Homes need to be located next to parks, schools and shopping  Conservation of energy and natural resources  Homes in the US account for 30% of total energy consumption and produce 20% of air pollution

Think about…  What is the definition of housing?  How does housing meet people’s physical needs?  How does housing satisfy psychological needs?  Tell how housing reflects identity  Why and how do housing needs change during the course of the life cycle?