Design Thesis - ReStacks
Name
Perryman-perryman-msred-cre-2023-thesis.pdf
Description
Thesis PDF
Size
174.98 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
c27a486a00e83e4841af57328a079cb3
Author(s)
Perryman, Benjamin
Advisor(s)
Grönfeldt, Svafa
Date Issued
June 2023
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
ReStacks is a full-service real estate development company that specializes in the construction and management of modular garages and accessory dwelling units. This design thesis explores how garages and accessory dwelling units can become sustainable infrastructure for housing, transportation, and the sharing economy in the car-dependent urban geography of Columbus, OH.
With growing concern about climate change and household economics, interests sometimes compete. While affordable housing and homeownership have become increasingly inaccessible, construction and the built environment represent over 40% of global fossil fuel emissions. Meanwhile, many existing homeowners can’t afford upgrading their homes and transportation to reduce their contribution to those emissions.
In many Columbus neighborhoods, there are opportunities to address these challenges. Behind single-family homes, there are long-reaching alley systems which are lined with vacant lots and defunct infrastructure. Initially used for the storage of livestock and carriages, many of these alleys fell into disrepair after the introduction of gas-powered cars. Through partnership with homeowners, ReStacks has begun building modular garages and accessory dwelling units to introduce cost-effective and ecologically-sensitive infrastructure for affordable housing, electric vehicles, and the sharing economy; high utility in a small footprint.
ReStacks’ design philosophy was derived from the concept of three-pronged sustainability and its approach involves dissecting the social, economic, and ecological dimensions of intervention to provide more diverse value for consumers, local economies, and the environment. The core principal of its business strategy is to drive marketvalue through overlapping, sustainable benefit. This document will highlight the design progression of ReStacks’ modular garages and accessory dwelling units as well as explore their potential profitability and impact.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Real Estate. Program in Real Estate Development.
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