Form elements of houses : investigating the collective form of detached houses

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the collective form of detached houses. A result of the American phenomenon of detached, single family, freestanding houses being the standard type. Through an observation of eight environments of this house type, a theory is developed about a way of designing in the detached house neighborhood. The idea is to consider the design of houses as a group and thus be able to arrange the elements of each to achieve a multiplicity of associations. This would build a collective form that enables the house form to have a high level of individuality. The thesis is divided into two parts: first, observing systems (elements and their relationships) of existing places and deriving a design method; then, using this method, generate a design.