A morphology of consolidation : spatial form and physical change in an American suburb

Abstract

This thesis is an exploration and analysis of the spatial form and structure of physical change within an American suburb. Typified as middle class, residential, and single family, one finds in such settings detached one or two story houses on 1/8 to 1/4 acre lots. One central argument is that physical change, or change of spatial form and structure, is a requisite concern within all built environments, including suburbia. The second argument is that physical change (ought to be) is guided by the existing spatial form and structure of the built environment (suburbia) such that the resulting environment manifests similar patterns of spatial form.The purpose of the thesis is to bring to rational, objective consideration a particular type of physical change which is occurring in suburbia yet is to a certain extent denied and not accepted. If such change is to be properly managed and to be used to the advantage of the greatest number of suburban residents, it must become a legitimate topic for public discussion. This thesis attempts to enable and facilitate the discussion through the presentation of a rational and systematic understanding of how physical change does/would/could come about and through an understanding of the environmental consequences of such change. The particular mode of physical change considered here and occurring in many lower density, middle class, residential suburbs is being referred to as "consolidation". The term, consolidation, is defined as the extension of and the building from current residential investments in housing and infrastructure in order to provide additional housing units without disrupting the existing built environment. The objective confronted in this thesis, in relation to consolidation, is to enable more and a greater variety of households to live in suburbia while guaranteeing these households and existing residents the maintenance of a certain degree of environmental qualities. In addition, such housing must be affordable to purchase and maintain, and tailored to a variety of household sizes and configurations.