Delineating Social Environments in the Residential High Rise. Inquiry into a new typology for living
Date of Submission
Spring 5-3-2019
Degree Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Architecture
Department
Architecture
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Edwin Akins
Secondary Advisor
Elizabeth Martin-Malikian
Abstract
Cities are known for their high levels of diversity which increases the number of interactions in the urban environment. These interactions happen in parks, plazas, and promenades, which are supported by the diversity of the surrounding buildings. Cities will increase by 60% in 2030, increasing the demand for housing. This increase in housing could also have a negative impact on the diversity of building character and contextual identity if building forms become too repetitive or standardized, a condition typical in times of rapid growth. This decrease in diversity can also lead to fewer interactions which will cause social isolation for the high rise dwellers. Effects from this include poor relations between neighbors, symptoms of depression, mental illness, and a lack of community. Through research, we would find that there are two areas where the loss of diversity could be improved. The first area is the context which will act as the foundation for the analysis focusing on the block size, park proximity, and diversity of functions in the area. The building forms are the second area of inquiry, and they strictly follow contextual conditions. These factors include the reduction of building edge treatment and land usage. The distribution of space within the form could be improved as the proximity of the dweller from space is reduced. Through the examination of these two areas, my thesis seeks to create an instrument of design that removes the social issues in the high rise living by introducing diversity into the context, and form and space of the high rise.