Grey Velcro Shoes by Charlott Lembke

GVS

recovering community com·mu·ni·ty \kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē\ : a unified body of individuals

Charlott Lembke University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture Professor Noah Resnik Master Thesis 2013

CONTENTS SECTION ONE Theory

SECTION TWO Test Case

SECTION THREE Final Strategy

Abstract

007

Thesis Question

008

Theoretical Research

013

Statement of Intent

021

User Description

021

Concept

023

Built Environment

025

Program

037

Precedent

039

Design Process

049

Analysis

055

New Strategy

059

Program

065

Precedent

067

Medical

077

Flex Space

083

Co-Housing

089

Design Process

091

Final Design

101

References

119

Acknowledgement

121

SECTION ONE

Baby Boomers are on the brink of retirement. According to the US Census Bureau projections, the number of people aged 65 and over will more than double in the coming decades, growing from 35 million in 2000 to 72+ million by 2030 22. They grew up in post-war conditions and the Cold War “duck and cover” practices were ever so present. Boomers never forgot that the world as they know it could be gone in a flash. The Cuban missile crisis and the John F. Kennedy assassination taught them to live the moment – carpe diem. As a result, boomers in their late 30s and throughout their 40s pursued personal satisfaction rather than concentrating on ordinary concerns such as making a living. “Sex-Drugs-and-Rock’n’Roll” became the motto and the first cases of so-called ‘midlife crisis’ arose. The Y Generation laughs when their parents are trying to figure out the newest smart-phone and gasp when dad comes home with the new 45th Anniversary Edition Camaro. Staying young, active and of sound mind is of utmost importance to the modern Boomer. They want to prove to their spouses, children and most importantly to themselves, that they can and will do better at age 65 than their parents did.

ABSTRACT What will be hard for them, is to realize that change is coming. And not only that it is coming and they have to cope with it, but they have to learn to thrive in it. With every retiring baby-boomer, it is becoming more and more clear that their idea of retirement differs tremendously from their parents, the transitional generation. The idea of retirement homes and assisted living in the traditional sense, sounds almost offensive to most boomers and they will shake their head in disbelieve that one day they might not be able to climb their steep, switchback staircases anymore. The majority of Boomers do not want to leave their home to live in a restrictive retirement community, but they wish to continue to live unassisted, close to their familiar surroundings and family. Move to a new home – fine. Move to a home where someone tells me when to take what pill – shoot me first. The challenge they face is to stay engaged and live their lives to the fullest. Early Bird Specials + Gray Velcro Shoes is an investigation of the current built environment and addresses how it entraps the elderly within it, and the need for a reinforced connection within the community. It questions the issue of

differences in generations and how their attributes can be utilized to bring the community together, instead of isolating each generation. This research seeks to integrate the elderly back into society as a functioning element, creating a give + take relationship. This new connection will not only benefit the community, but also better the healthcare aspects of the elderly. Psychological issues such as depression resulting from isolation play a great factor in the mental and physical health of any generation 8. By re-integrating the elderly back into the community, they will have a function and purpose - not feel lonely and isolated and will stay active and healthier longer. This will improve medicare and medicaid issues, help those without insurance and will keep more elderly out of long-term-care facilities. The building typology has to accomidate three scenarios - flex space, co-housing and medical use. This mixed use community condition is centered within a suburban Warren, Michigan neighborhood. This will only be for elderly that do not feel comfortable living on their own in their house, but do not want to leave the neighborhood, the known and their memories.

Could infilling the current built environment with small, dispersed programs help reintegrate the elderly, making unassisted living possible for longer, and establish a stronger sense of community for all?

“Youth was the time for happiness, its only season; young people, leading a lazy, carefree life, partially occupied by scarcely absorbing studies, were able to devote themselves unlimitedly to the liberated exultation of their bodies. They could play, dance, love, and multiply their pleasures. They could leave a party, in the early hours of the morning, in the company of sexual partners they had chosen, and contemplate the dreary line of employees going to work. They were the salt of the earth, and everything was given to them, everything was permitted for them, everything was possible. Later on, having started a family, having entered the adult world, they would be introduced to worry, work, responsibility, and the difficulties of existence; they would have to pay taxes, submit themselves to administrative formalities while ceaselessly bearing witness--powerless and shame-filled--to the irreversible degradation of their own bodies, which would be slow at first, then increasingly rapid; above all, they would have to look after children, mortal enemies, in their own homes, they would have to pamper them, feed them, worry about their illnesses, provide the means for their education and their pleasure, and unlike in the world of animals, this would last not just for a season, they would remain slaves of their offspring always, the time of joy was well and truly over for them, they would have to continue to suffer until the end, in pain and with increasing health problems, until they were no longer good for anything and were definitively thrown into the rubbish heap, cumbersome and useless. In return, their children would not be at all grateful, on the contrary their efforts, however strenuous, would never be considered enough, they would, until the bitter end, be considered guilty because of the simple fact of being parents. From this sad life, marked by shame, all joy would be pitilessly banished. When they wanted to draw near to young people’s bodies, they would be chased away, rejected, ridiculed, insulted, and, more and more often nowadays, imprisoned. The physical bodies of young people, the only desirable possession the world has ever produced, were reserved for the exclusive use of the young, and the fate of the old was to work and to suffer. This was the true meaning of solidarity between generations; it was a pure and simple holocaust of each generation in favor of the one that replaced it, a cruel, prolonged holocaust that brought with it no consolation, no comfort, nor any material or emotional compensation.” Michel Houellebecq - The Possibility of an Island

POLITICAL

ECONOMY

HEALTHCARE

TYPES OF CARE

DEMOGRAPHICS

URBAN CONDITION

PHYSICAL HEALTH

CIRCLE OF ISSUES A total of ten ‘issues’ concerning the baby boomers and their retirement habits and wishes were considered. While all are important and interconnected, I chose to focus on the urban condition, mobility and physical health. Others were considered in setting parameters or the project.

PSYCHOLOGICAL

RELATIONSHIPS

MOBILITY

CIRCLE OF ISSUES

THEORETICAL RESEARCH As horrid as this excerpt by Michel Houellebecq sounds, we cannot deny itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; truth. We cannot deny that throughout the generations we have isolated ourselves. Each generation for themselves, never owing anything to the one before. And as we go on, feeling more connected than ever, we have never been this alone. How are we to survive in a world filled with billions of single entities? All desperately waiting for the day that the work and suffering will cease only to realize we cannot afford to rest just yet. In January 2011, the first of 72+ million baby-boomers turned 65 years old 27 . The 2010 US census shows us that over 10,000 boomers will turn 65 years old every day for the next 20 years. By 2040 the entire countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demographic is going to look like Florida does today 7. The largest generation yet is striving to stay healthier and live longer, as well as to stay active and independent. They wish to stay in their familiar surroundings but feel disconnected from the community and trapped in the expanse of suburban neighborhoods 11. By designing a method for improving the relationship between generations, new functions and

responsibilities can be created to foster the give + take idea. The current suburban built environment is inadequate for the babyboomers who find themselves trapped in their col-de-sacs. Their own children have moved away in the majority of cases and are in the middle of their own hectic lives with no time to drive their parents to the doctor or grocery store. This is not only an issue of family and community relationships [which have to be addressed through the process of design] but is also an issue of planning, proximity and transportation. This investigation examines the current built environment of a typical lower-income neighborhood and define obstacles current baby-boomers will face in a few years when they retire. This thesis is led by the following question: Could infilling the current built environment with small, dispersed programs help reintegrate the elderly, making unassisted living possible for longer, and establish a stronger sense of community for all? The investigation began by identifying a series of issues concerning

ELDERLY ON THE RISE The red line shows life expectancy at birth and is projected through 2030, taking advancing healthcare into consideration. The orange line shows population percentage of elderly 65+ in the United States. Both lines exemplify the very reason for my research - people are living longer and therefore making up a larger part of society for longer.

the baby-boomer generation. These issues include demographics, healthcare, politics, economy, mobility, physical health, relationships and more. Many of these issues are closely related and play off each other. The issue of relationships plays an important role in demographics within the boomer generation. Which again is explained by analyzing economic history. The economy is affected by and also affects politics which both have an impact on healthcare, physical health and mental health. Physical and mental health are influenced by relationships, urban condition and housing conditions. These issues can be intertwined even more. The point however is to show that all these issues are related to each other and have to be looked at as a whole. The baby-boomer generation encompasses anyone born between 1946 and 1964. They grew up in post-war conditions and during the Cold War, “duck and cover” practices were a daily routine. The silent generation never let their children forget that the world as they know it could be gone in a flash. The Cuban missile crisis and the John F. Kennedy assassination taught them to live the moment – carpe diem. As a result, boomers in their late 30s and throughout the 40s pursued personal satisfaction rather than concentrating on

ordinary concerns such as making a living. “Sex-Drugs-and-Rock’n’Roll” became the motto and the first cases of the so-called ‘midlife crisis’ arose 2. Looking at the demographics of this generation and their attitude towards the elderly, a distinction between Caucasian and Ethnic Groups becomes clear. Family relationships and upbringing differs between the two. Multi-generational households are more common in ethnicities other than caucasians. This investigation will focus on the majority ethnicity found in the industrialized countries and especially the United States. The overarching difference is, that the majority of ethnic families have a stronger sense of culture, values and family. Whereas the Caucasian families believe in a more popular culture which is not rooted as a historical culture would be, and is ever changing. This is the reason why the majority of ethnic elderly are taken care of by their family and Caucasian elderly will for the most part find themselves in retirement and nursing homes 4, 6, 9, 24. However, research shows us that retirement and nursing homes are a somewhat newer concept and really took off after the Second World War 1. The question arises why this is so. The silent generation lived through both world wars and come from tragic times. They

ISSUES IN AGING

TRUST FUND + ECONOMY When Social Security was first put into place, there was a fairly balanced amount of people paying into and taking out of the fund. The average life expectancy was also 72 years old. By 2027, we will have twice as many people taking from the fund as is paying into it. If social security does not get modified and altered, the trust fund will be depleted by 2041.

know the effects of war, what it means to be hungry and poor. After the war, saving money, saving food and saving everything they could was their greatest concern. Having children at the time symbolized a level of status. It showed that you could afford children. With a extreme influx in childbirths, the industrialized world also witnessed an economic influx. By 1964, the first boomers turned 18 and were thrown into an economic world geared towards them. Corporations figured out quickly, that their largest market profit will come from the largest generation yet. Selling to elder people would not make them money as there are fewer of them. Selling to the 72+ million, young and reckless boomers however would. With every advertisement and radio commercial geared towards their needs and wants, the young boomer adults only learned constant consumption. And while capitalism spiked, the market told them they are all-important 2. As the boomers were trained to believe in a ‘me-me-me’ attitude, the thought of being burdened by their parents took on. This is where the realestate boom in retirement and nursing homes came in. The boomers are to this day, youth-obsessed and want to stay as independent as ever. They wanted to be radically different than their parents and experienced the urge to prove themselves

better than any previous generation. This attitude was naturally instilled into the following generations and is the reason for why they find themselves stuck in their cul-de-sacs today 2. Today, it is the Y-Generations’ concern (born late 80s to 2000) to deal with parents and/ or grandparents generation which is retiring by the thousands every day. Chancellor Bismarck of Germany established the first ever social security system over 100 years ago. Back then he set the retirement age to 65 years old because only the smallest percentage of people paying into this system ever made it to that age. When Roosevelt adopted this system and created the US Social Security System in 1935, the median life expectancy at birth was 63.7 years old. Again, the number of people actually claiming a pension was small. However, today’s median life expectancy is 78.3 years old and rising. The US census is projecting that by 2027 the number of people claiming pension and those paying into it, is going to reverse. By 2041 the trust fund will be depleted 24. This means, that if the system does not change, that most of the boomer generation will not be able to receive government aid and all the following generations will never see a dime once they retire 27. Without going into great

Most other countries and even ethnicities in the USA have a much different outlook on life and their elderly. It is common to take in the elderly in Asian and Latino families, yet not usual for Caucasians. Muchhas to do with the pop culture era during which the boomers grew up. Advertisement and media was geared towards the largest generation yet, which gave most a sense that I am most important.

RUIN BY CULTURE

detail on the ever changing political and healthcare issues, it is clear that everyone better have a backup plan ready and start saving individually. However, as discussed earlier, the boomers grew up spending money, not saving it. Most realize today that their dream of retiring at 65 has crumbled and they must work much longer. This creates many more issues such as work placement and availability. Younger generations today have a difficult time finding a job due to the very large, older workforce that does not want to and cannot retire yet. And even if they work until they are physically and mentally unfit for their position, we learned earlier that the boomers are stubborn and strive for individuality as well as independence. Retirement in the traditional sense is not an option for them. The majority of Boomers do not want to leave their home to live in a restrictive retirement community, but they wish to continue to live unassisted, close to their familiar surroundings and family. This is where the design investigation of this thesis finds its beginning. It was discussed that the current built environment will be unfit for the aging boomers and as they are our largest generation yet, they make up a large portion of our community. Suburbia was born in the need of getting away from

the city for a variety of reasons. Today and in the years to come, the boomers will find themselves trapped in their neighborhoods, many not able or scared to drive far distances. Yet, they refuse to move and maybe in lieu of moving we have to look the community or lack thereof that might make living independently possible for longer. Assisted living could possibly become more acceptable if it is in terms of community assisting each other. However, the question here is not whether migrating or staying put is the answer, but how can we age in place in a dysfunctional suburbia? With 18 years left before the last baby boomer retires, now is the time to rethink suburbia, being and dwelling in place. The challenge is infill built suburbia with programs needed to acquire a stronger sense of community or all generations. This will indirectly make it possible for the elderly to stay independent longer and avoid having to move into retirement and nursing homes until late age. The goal is to slowly bring back the sense of giving and taking, working together instead of segregating generations.

USER DESCRIPTION

STATEMENT OF INTENT Project Justification The boomers strive to live an independent lifestyle, free from rules and restrictions. Most wish to continue living in their familiar surroundings, but are forced to move to a retirement community or the like, due to entrappment in neighborhoods and their growing physical needs. Through design, a method to improve the relationship between generations, create new functions and responsibilities, is thought to re-establish community engagement and recover a long-lost Give + Take attitude between neighbors. Relationship to Architecture The current built environment is inadequate for the baby-boomers who find themselves trapped in their tight knit neighborhoods. Their own children have moved away for the most part and are in the middle of their own hectic lives with no time to drive their parents to the doctor or grocery store. This is not only an issue of family and community relationships [which have to be addressed through the process of design] but is also an issue of planning, proximity and transportation.

Engagement The current built environment in suburban neighborhoods is inadequate for elderly retirees as they oftentimes come to a point where they can still take care of themselves, but feel uncomfortable driving far distances. This investigation will examine the current built environment of a typical lowerincome neighborhood and define obstacles current baby-boomers will face in a few years when they retire. An urban planning design for the site and the planned building type will yield a proposal to solve these issues.

User All generations living in one community , needing assistance in one way or another, collectively make up the end user. Client The client varies depending on the building type and function. However, the client is always one of the following, or a mixture of several:

- US Government - Municipality - Medicare/ Medicaid - Health Insurance Companies - The End User

GIVE + TAKE CONCEPT

WATCH + TEACH DRIVE + ASSIST

The Give+ Take concept is hanging by MENTOR a thread and most younger children I + have encountered expect TUTOR a payment of some sort for emptying the dishwasher or shoveling the driveway. As much fault lies with the parents as with society as a whole. We have been unconsciously taught for generations, that we are all the center of our own, little universes. It is time to get back the traditions and values our grandparents are desperatly holding on to. The idea [and by no means is this a new idea or even a different version of it] is that I do something for you, and you will do something for me in return. I will drive grandma down the street to the grocery store, and she will help me with my history paper. The widow next door watches my child for me while I am running errands, and in turn I will cut her lawn.

DRIVE + ASSIST

Also a familiar idea - have all these COMMUNITY PHILOSOPHY giving and taking people live by each other; whether it be a co-housing scenario or just living in the same neighborhood. Yet, there are already people who are nice enough to shovel their neighbors driveway. Sadly, there are not enough of them. So how do we get more people to jump on board? By phsyically showing them this type of relationship and planting this idea and it will spread like a virus. Mr. Smith sees Maggy helping the neighbor

and he will pull in the garbagecan for his neighbor the next day. And the garbage can neighbor will invite Ms. Meier and her kids to dinner, because he knows she does not have time. Ms. Meier is so touched and feels the need to do a good deed.... and the idea-virus keeps spreading. This virus needs to be manifested in a physical form. Many co-housing examples exist; some in the USA but many, many more in Europe and especially Norway and Denmark.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT

early bird specials + grey velcro shoes

master thesis | charlott lembke early bird specials + grey velcro shoes

master thesis | charlott lembke

CREATION OF SUBURBIA Our built environment, a maze of neatly arranged lots and hourses, grew from the idea of many influencial leaders in the early 1900s, including Henry Ford, who pushed for single-family housing to show status, independence and ownership. Instead of growing tall, many suburbs around big cities grew wide.

early bird specials + grey velcro shoes

master thesis | charlott lembke early bird specials + grey velcro shoes

master thesis | charlott lembke

WARREN, MICHIGAN Warren was built in two stages - south of I-696 was built in the 1950s, while north of the highway was built in the 1960s. Lots on the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;south-sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are much smaller and narrower and houses are generally smaller.

ELDERLY HUBS Even though this investigation relies on a concept and needs not to be connected to a specific region, one has been selected to exemplify how the design works in a built environment. Warren, Michigan has been selscted as it is in close proximity and has the 6th highest percentage of 65 and older in the United States.

2500â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 1500â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

PROXIMITY Mapping out the majority of amenities such as grocery stores, banks, pharmacies and others, these essential places of business and service are missing in the vastness of dense neighborhoods. The graphic to the left represents the proximity elderly are willing to walk to different amenities. The grocery store or pharmacy should not be more than 1500 feet away while the post office can be about half a mile away.Walking distances are important, as many elderly feel unconfortable driving, especially during rush hour traffic. The question is, What if you live in the red area? These suburbs are not built like smaller towns where residents walk everywhere. Suburbs where built when the automobile became popular and one showed status by not living in the city.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT The typical built environment in Warren are mostly one story , ranch-style homes with detached garages. Most measured about 30â&#x20AC;&#x2122; x 25â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The dense neighborhoods are surrounded by businesses on the main streets. Many fast-food restaurants, car dealerships and mechanic shops lined these tree-less streets.

SECTION TWO

PROGRAM OVERVIEW The campus or building was to have five major functions and provide s space for these functions. Daycare Facility Elderly, yet capaple individuals would run a child daycare under supervision of trained staff. This gives the elderly a sense of purpose and that once again, they are needed. Small Medical Facility All generations

coulduse

the

medical facility for minor illness such as the flu, refilling prescriptions and joint pain. This could act as a primary care physician who would then refer people. Community Living and Dining A few different living styles would be offered to accomodate different stages of independence and dependence, as well as widows and couples. The different styles would come with or without a kitchen. The ones without a kitchen would use the community kitchen in which meals can be cooked on an individual basis or for a group.

Library and Mentoring Mentoring does not only go one way - the wiser can teach the young just as much as the young can show the older. These spaces are for tutoring, reading and studying. Alone; the retiree helping the young with homework and papers, or the young showing the elderly how to use their iPhone or write an email. Car Share Program Many elderly that do not want to drive themselves anymore still have a car sitting in the driveway. In this community, they may want to sign up for the car share program in which the 17-year-old get to use grandmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s car on Friday night, if he drives her to the doctors.

PROGRAM DIAGRAM The first investigation [which ended up as a test case] explored a cluster of amenities within one space or close proximity. A quick program and adjacencies layed out initial plans for a building or campus. The larger diagram explores these adjacencies in more detail.

PRECEDENT

TIETGEN DORMITORY

LUNDGAARD + TRANSBERG ARCHITECTS

The principle inspiration for the project is the meeting of the collective and the individual, a characteristic inherent to the dormitory building type. The simple circular form - symbol of equality and the communal - is contrasted by projecting volumes expressing the individual residences. The apartments are set at differing depths and alternating rhythm, which expresses the individual’s unique identity through its form and gives the exterior form of the building it’s characteristic expression and neutralises the monumental shape of the cylindrical space. The apartment groups’ communal spaces are formed correspondingly. They stand out as dramatically protruding building masses that face the middle of the courtyard - the centre-point of the form. The dormitory’s facade of copper alloy panels is complemented by a glass partition and sliding screen profile system of oiled american oak. The building’s interior is characterized by an exposed concrete structure and plywood clad partitions. Poured magnesia flooring and acoustic ceilings of expanded metal are used throughout the dormitory.

TIETGEN DORMITORY

PRIVATE

SHARED

The upper levels are organized with 360 residence units along the perimeter and the communal functions are oriented toward the inner courtyard. Facilities common to the entire dormitory are grouped at ground level. This dormitory seems especially sensitive to private and public spaces in a cohousing scenario, focusing community and sharing spaces on the interior of the overall space.

MOUNTAIN DWELLINGS P2

BIG

How do you combine the splendours of the suburban backyard with the social intensity of urban density? The program is 2/3 parking and 1/3 living. What if the parking area became the base upon which to place terraced housing – like a concrete hillside covered by a thin layer of housing, cascading from the 11th floor to the street edge? Rather than doing two separate buildings next to each other – a parking and a housing block – we decided to merge the two functions into a symbiotic relationship. The parking area needs to be connected to the street, and the homes require sunlight, fresh air and views, thus all apartments have roof gardens facing the sun, amazing views and parking on the 10th floor. The Mountain Dwellings appear as a suburban neighbourhood of garden homes flowing over a 10-storey building – suburban living with urban density.

PRECEDENCE

This casestudy was particular interesting to my investigation, as it explores a different way of combining several different programs, while balancing public, shared and private space. The balance of public, shared and private is repeated within the individual apartments. One enters in the shared space of kitchen, living and dining room. The public space [as in visible to the public and surrounding neighbors] consists of sunroom and terrasse. The bedroom and bathroom are the only private spaces.

DESIGN PROCESS

SITE SELECTION This currently vacant lot is centered in a dense neighborhood, surrounded by industry and businesses. Public transportation is within walking distance. As the surrounding environment varies between one or two stories, the proposed building and campus should be of low vertical profile as well.

TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRIAL EDUCATIONAL PARKS

E DEVELOPMENT

SIGHTLINES SIGHTLINES SITE GRID

SIGHTLINES

REFINE FOOTPRINT

NES

SIGHTLINES

REFINE FOOTPRINT

REFINE SITE FOOTPRINT GRID REFINE FOOTPRINT

VEHICULAR + PEDESTRIAN

ANALYSIS After getting to this stage I realized that all I am doing, is creating an urban center within suburbia. A community within a community. Yet, the elderly trapped in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;red areasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of the amenities map, are still trapped. Even if multiple, smaller community facilities were to be built, people still have to get there. And the boomers that wish to stay in their familiar neighborhood and want to age in place, still have to move to this community. Community centers already exist in every city, so do retirement communities and nursing homes. The point of this investigation however, was to get away from these forms of growing old. Even co-housing examples found in Norway and Denmark still require you to move. This is where I had to rethink and start over, asking myself: What type of infill will make staying in your neighborhood for longer possible for retirees and elderly? And how can this infill re-establish the sense of community for generations residing within it?

SECTION THREE

NEW [SMALL SCALE] STRATEGY

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SUBURBS The typical environment focused on for this investigation is a dense neighborhood with homes only ten feet apart. Detached garages are set back The houses are an average of 30 feet wide and 25 feet deep. A typical floor plan has three bedrooms and one bath. For the purpose of this investigation, I omitted the staircase leading to the basement and added a second bathroom - which is the case in fewer homes. 61

INITIAL THOUGHT When considering the thesis question Could infilling the current built environment with small, dispersed programs help reintegrate the elderly, making unassisted living possible for longer, and establish a stronger sense of community for all? I had to look at the homes themselves, not vacant fields. It is the space between and around the homes that is of interest and needs to be engaged. These little infills can be dispursed throughout the neighborhood and have different programs. They could be simple living arrangements and expansions, or additions to a doctors house who can provide services in the evenings and weekends. These program possibilities will be explored further.

[3]

INFILL PROGRAMS

The three infill programs are comprised of medical infills, co-housing connections and flex-spaces. Each program has restrictions on how many may be built in one square mile, in order to visually maintain the existing environment.

Medical

Co-Housing

Flex-Space

Full-service hospitals are approximatly one mile from this particular area. One medical infill per square mile is sufficient to service the elderly. The medical infill will be paid for by the US Government, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as health insurance companies. The residents of two houses must apply for a co-housing connection, in order to get financial assistance from the US government, Medicare and Medicaid and their health insurance provider. The residents of either home must either need assistance or be able to give it. Multiple scenarious are possible. Only four cohousing connections may be built for every 100 residents, and no more than two may exist on one block. The flex-spaces are paid for by the City of Warren as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Up to four per square mile may be constructed. The residents who will be limited by the infill may receive benefits and tax cuts.

PRECEDENT

HOME OUT OF RUINS WT Architecture

In order to be sensitive to the residents and what they are accustomed to, their built environment has to be enhanced by the infill, not disturbed. This scottish ruin was infilled by a young couple who fell in love with the pictureesque landscape and the romantic charm of the ruin. Great care was taken when infilling the large crack in the main wall with glass. More square footage has been added with a simple storefront structure.5

KRESGE FOUNDATION

THE KRESGE FOUNDATION

Valerio Dewalt Train Associates Conservation Design Forum FARR ASSOCIATES The Kresge Foundation is based in the historic, 19th-centurty Brooks Farm which finds itself admist nowsuburban Troy, Michigan. The office encompasses the original farm house as well as a barn. These are connected with a modern, LEED certified building. The plan for the new headquarters was unveiled in 2004 and completed two years later. Even though the office incorporates the renovated farmhouse, barn and several smaller outbuildings, the majority of the project is new construction and makes extensive use of glass and aluminum. In 2008, the Foundation earned its Platinum LEED designation for the project. They are comminted to use their new headquarters as a teaching tool, promoting green design and construction operations throughout metro Detroit. The combination of new construction, historic preservation of existing farmhouses, and native ecosystem restoration result in an unusual and highly successful mix of strategies that reflect the Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to create a sustainable future 22.

This casestudy is relevant to my own investigation in terms of visual preservation of the original, built environment. The aluminum and glass addition takes a step back visually and allows the original famrhouse and restored barn to stand out. It is not intrusive to the site and does not try to compete or dominate the other buildings. The extensive sustainable landscape practices allows the headquarters to realize one of its core values: environmental conservation. Sustainable strategies include green roofs, rainwater collection, constructed wetland

ponds, porous pavements, and native landscapes, which function to recharge groundwater, reduce potable water use, save energy, create habitat, and foster workplace satisfaction 22. A sensitive, but impactful presence is what the infill programs of this investigation need to achieve, in order to maintain the neighborhoodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; history and integrity. Yet, the infill demands to stand out enough to be recognized as part of the larger Give + Take concept which connects individual blocks to neighbrohoods to the city as a whole.

DOMESTIC TRANSFORMER gary chang

In Hong Kong, because of the space, apartments are small and expensive. Architect Gary Chang decided to design a 32 sqm (344 sq. ft.) apartment to be able to change into 24 different designs, all by just sliding panels and walls. Chang has been living in this apartment since he was 14 years old. After his parents move out, he tried a series of modifications which became more complex, until he started installing tracks in the ceiling and floor. Mirrors on the ceiling hide the tracks and add height to the apartment.28 Movable or rotating walls in the cohousing scenario would help in creating privacy and shared space depending on the residents needs.

MEDICAL

Two homes will be combined to establish a medical infill. In this scenario, several chronic ill patients [capable of caring for themselves, but need daily medical attention] live together, sharing a kitchen, dining and living room. In the front of the infill, a small medical facility can attend to the residents, as well as people from the neighborhood. This facility could act as a limited primary care physician, who may take care of minor illnesses, prescribe medication and refer to other doctors. This will relieve the long commute and wait time when taking a small child to the doctor for an ear infection, and will be better for the elderly who only wants a new prescription for arthritis pain.

79 The medical infill houses up to seven chronic ill patients. In this case, chronic ill patients are able to generally take care of themselves with limited help needed. Yet these patients have daily medical needs. In most cases, these type of patients would need to move to an assisted living facility. In this infill, residents are able to stay within their known environment, while having medical staff available during the daytime. The front of the infill is for public use, where residents of the neighborhood can come to get a quick refill, have their childrens ear infection treated or be refered to a specialist.

The interior of the homes has been gutted and replaced with wheelchair accesible hallways and doors. The kitchen has lower counters. All bathrooms are wheelchair accesible and shared between two rooms. One room is larger with its own, larger bathroom. The image on the right is a view of the waiting area and the reception desk in the back.

FLEX SPACE

The flex space infill does not compromise the existing homes, but only takes up the ten foot space in between the houses. It will have a small bathroom and a kitchenette. The space can be rented out by anyone in the community for spontaneous daycare, neighborhood watch meetings or tutoring lessons. I could see a financial planner having private meetings with people there, to talk about and help establish a better plan for their retirement.

The flex space is built is between two existing homes, without compromising or damaging the exterior walls. The interior is simple with storage walls that have panels that fold out to provide a table surface. A small kitchenette and bathroom are in the back of the infill. This space can be use any type of activity the residents of the neighborhood need such as spontaneous daycare or a space for the neighborhood watch to meet.

CO-HOUSING

The two houses in which the infill is to be built, will once again be compromised by building one large kitchen and dining area. As there are endless combinations of who might live in this scenario, iit always have to be two parties that can help and assist each other in one way or another. This might be a single mother with two kids and a retired couple. The retired couple can help with the children. Later in life the couple will have grown old and will need assistance which the mother can provide. Another scenatio might be two elderly couples with one chronic ill or wheelchair bound person each. Since so many possibilities exist and each would require a slightly different approach to layout of the infill space, this inestigation will focus on a single mother and children living with a retired coule.

DESIGN PROCESS

DESIGN PROCESS The kitchen of the left house would be modified and used as the shared kitchen. One of the bathrooms of the right house would become the dining room. The bathroom is replaced in the right houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen. The infill is larger in size in the back, while the front becomes an elongated shared entrance. I realized quickly that the best solution is to flip the right houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living room and existing bedrooms, in order to eliminate the houses existing entrances for the larger, shared entrance. It was difficult to satisfy the right amount of shared and private spaces. Especially since the residents change over the years and needs will differ. Some days, the dining room might need to be private when one side of the house has guests. While wanting to open up the space, it also has to be able to be closed off.

COME ON OVER! With both living rooms at the core of the infill, a system has to be designed to allow for sharing and open traffic flow.

PRIVACY PLEASE! At other times, the living rooms might need to be private and closed off, while still allowing access to the kitchen and entrance.

Rotating wall of left house

Slat wall of right house

MOVING WALLS Privacy or shared space can be created at a moments notice. A rotating wall can pivot 280 degrees about the space. Its top section features frosted, sliding glass and shelves. The middle panels fold down to create additional counter space in the kitchen and it makes a great breakfast counter. The bottom panels flip up to be used as desks. The right house has a slatted wall which can be folded up into itself and pushed against the dining room wall to create an open flow. Or it can be folded out to create privacy for the living room.

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FINAL DESIGN

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STREETVIEW The infill is comprised of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;slanted houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; beams, connected with a galzing system and wooden slats. The slats act as sun shading, while windows in the glazing units on the roof can be opened for natural cross ventilation.

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NIGHT VIEW

ROOF PLAN The hip roofs have been modified towards the center, in order to meet the new infill structure in a perpendicular manner.THis will avoid depries and water collecting between the roof and new structure.

BACK YARD The back portion of the infill opens up to a large yard and a double garage. Depending on the state in which the infill is built, different glazing choices adjust to the climate.

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eat

prep

eat

cook

sleep

mechanical

sleep

wash

store ---

live

FLOOR PLAN The sleeping quarters are kept at either end of the original houses. The right side has been modiefied to accomodate wheelchairs. The hallway and doors on the right side have been widened. The plans are showing the large rotating wall in the ‘shared’ position in the kitchen with its wings folded out to provide additional counter space. The slat wall of the right house is also in its ‘shared’ position.

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KITCHEN VIEWING ENTRY The rotating wall is in its ‘shared’ position, adding counter space in the kitchen. The slat wall of the right house is closed to provide a sense of privacy.

THERMAL BREAK GLAZING FRAME FLITCHPLATE

CUT I-BEAM TO ACT AS FLITCHPLATE AT JOINTS THERMAL BREAK GLAZING FRAME BOLTED

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THERMAL BREAK GLAZING FRAME FLITCHPLATE

CUT I-BEAM TO ACT AS FLITCHPLATE AT JOINTS THERMAL BREAK GLAZING FRAME BOLTED

INFILL SYSTEM The slanted house beams are made of glulam strenghtened with flitchplates, so the beam itself does not have to be thicker at the joints. A bent and cut I-beam strengthens the joint, while the bolts are arranged to allow for the glazing system to fit in between.

LIVING ROOM The slat wall is folded up to create an open flow between both houses. A two inch thick, acrylic wall acts as a lighting feature as well as a railing system which lits the way.

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ASSISTANCE IN DISGUISE The bathroom of the right house features a modern walk-in bathtub, lower counters and a bench. The lit acrylic wall can be used as shelving for small items, or as a grabbar in disguise. The bathroom is large enough to comfortably fit a wheelchair.

LIVING ROOM The rotating wall is functioning as additional counterspace. The open concept of the shared space welcomes guests and makes residents feel like family. Double pane argon glass might be used on the vast amount of glazed walls and roof in colder climates, while a heat reflectant film might be added in a hotter climate.

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FROM OLD TO NEW Looking into the new infill space from the existing hallway, we see the rotating wall being used to seperate kitchen and living room. Mother and child are doing homework on the flip up desk. In the background, the slatted wall has been pulled shut to give privacy to the other living room.

LAST THOUGHTS Reflecting on the work I have accomplished, I will now continue to look into “Time Banks” which is a concept used by many neighborhoods. One lists a trade or service and earn ‘time dollars’ for every hour of work they provide to others. In turn, they can buy services from other residents. It is very much the same Give + Take idea, but good deeds are bought with good deeds. Also, the expectation that other families or entities will move into one of these houses after a scenario changes might be unlikely or at least not as easily accomplished as I am hoping. A modular system that can be installed easily and taken away quickly might have been a more economical solution. Overall, I am content with my thesis and I believe I successfully answered by thesis question through design. I revised and stepped back many times to tweak and perfect the concept behind it all. Research and this overarching concept of community through design, was almost more important than the end result. I believe I was visually sensitive to the neighborhoods’ built environment, only adding to it, not disturbing the view. The layout proved to be good for my selected housing scenario and fit in with the parameter I have set myself.

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THANK YOU Very special thanks go to my parents and family who have supported me for the last seven years of upsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and downsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. I would not be here without their encouragement, persistence and late-nightsandwich-making-help. They never said it would be easy, they always prepared me for the hardest. Today, I thrive in difficult endeavors and stressful situations. I will be forever greatful.

I would like to thank my professor and advisor - Noah Resnik. He has giving me all the rope I needed to explore and learn, without hanging myself. He made me realize some ugly truths about reality - and how to face them. My thanks and appreciation also go to Will Wittig whom I met first as my advisor, and later as the Dean of the School of Architecture. I came to him after my first degree, worried I would not fit into architecture school. Yet, he gave me the confidence I needed to succeed. He has always understood and reciprocated my honest and outspoken approach.