A transitional home in the city : rebuilding the layers of daily life

Abstract

This thesis explores how the architecture of a place can be informed by an understanding of psychological needs. The project is the design of a transitional home in the South End of Boston. A transitional home is a place where homeless families reside during their difficult journey from crisis shelter to permanent housing. It is a place that offers physical and psychological protection, two essential components of shelter. The architectural layering of territories is examined as a way to ease the effect of the crisis, or make the emotional transition of its residents a smoother one. The suggestion is that the architectural form of the home might be designed by applying an understanding of the emotional crisis of homelessness. The thesis is organized into two general sections. The first discusses the crisis of homelessness, the relationship between the transitional home and the broader community, and the programmatic and emotional needs of the residents. The second defines three psychological stages of crisis. It is the interpretation of these three stages and the needs associated with them that drives the design exploration, in an attempt to make the building more sensitive to the needs of the residents.