A house four all seasons : a suggested habitation model for Great Barrington

Abstract

Great Barrington, Massachusetts. A naturally beautiful setting combined with four distinct weather seasons dictates a lifestyle for this small South Berkshire town's residents and visitors alike. This thesis proposes that it is desirable and possible for a dwelling to be unique to an area, and as such, to reflect and embody specific aspects of that area. A dwelling of this type could easily become the cornerstone of a recognizable new neighborhood, one which Great Barrington is in dire need of. In this thesis I have isolated the topography, climate, and mode of life which are specific to the Berkshire area and especially to Great Barrington. These extracted qualities specific to Great Barrington are used to generate a design for a single family house in this South Berkshire town. Through this residential model of the single family house it is suggested that one's physical habitation is able to both directly and indirectly reflect and relate to the ever changing seasons and weather. It is this ability of the single family house to form and foster relationships with its environment which makes Great Barrington a special place to be in; a place all of its own.