House v. Home

The Universal Need for Housing House: any structure built

for people to live in Includes natural shelters,

portable shelters and permanent shelters

People historically have always tried to create comfortable shelters for themselves and families

Shelters Natural shelters: primitive people

relied on the landscape for protection Portable shelter: nomads (people who

wander from place to place) put up a framework, then cover with grass or skins

Permanent shelters: built depending on the usable material of the area (earliest village built in Israel/Syria 8000 B.C.)

Community Distinction

When communities began to form in history, distinction in housing developed

As populations grew, people built cities Center of the city: 2 story homes of the upper class. Homes were a symbol of wealthEx: Wealthy Chinese lived in stately wooden houses, the

poor lived in mud huts or caves As rich people gained possessions, they built homes on

cliffs or mountains for protection

Housing to fit human needs Physical needs: all the things the body

needs to survive (air, sunlight, shelter, sleep, food)

Psychological needs: anything related to thoughts and emotions (love, belonging, fun, relaxation, comfort)

Housing that provides opportunities to meet psychological needs is more than a structure/house, it becomes a home.

Draw a “House” Diagram

Draw a simple picture of a house

On one side list all the physical needs a house provides for a person

On the opposite side list all the psychological things a home provides

What do you think makes a HOUSE a HOME? House Vs. Home Chart

Identity

Imagine a neighborhood where every house looks exactly the same. Would you want to live there?

The sameness can be uninteresting People like to personalize their homes People’s tastes, values, attitudes, and

personalities help form lifestyles

Identity Housing meets the need to express

personality People choose housing and furnishings

based on their likes and dislikes People choose housing that reflects their

values One person might choose ultramodern

and one person would choose traditional Housing is a symbol of achievement

(first apartment=independence)

Identity Activity Write down

several ways you would design a house to show your personal identity

Share with the class

Housing and Individual Needs People move many times in their life for many

different reasons Changes in housing correspond to changes in a

person’s life (ie: new job, new city, new house) Corresponds to the human life cycle (the stages of

life from infancy to adult) When people marry, they enter the “family life cycle” Families go through many stages in their lives; often

these stages correspond to housing choices and needs.

Life Cycle ExamplesGuess the Housing Situation

Mike and Rosie are a young couple and just got married.

Marie and Antonio have been married for 5 years and have a 3 year old son.

Estella is a grandmother with her 2 grandchildren in her care.

Andre and Dianna have grown children who have recently moved out of their house.

Sam is retired and lives with his wife.

Your first Apartment Think about your

first apartment What kinds of things

would you like? Write down at least 5

things you dream about having in your first apartment

Where do you imagine the apartment will be?

Would you live there by yourself?

Special Housing Needs Older people have difficulty living alone (need

help cleaning, with meals, accidents) By 2030, people over the age of 65 will account for

20% of the population More people live past the age of 85

Retirement housing, assisted living, nursing homes will become more common and necessary

People with disabilities also have special housing needs as they require comfortable, efficient housing that considers their disability

Some people with mental disabilities live in group living centers where they have assistance with daily care needs

What types of situations require special housing?

Universal Design Designing interiors and

products to accommodate people of all needs and abilities

Acknowledges people are different sizes, ages, and have different abilities

Barrier-free design: living spaces designed with out structures to prevent access by people with special needs (without narrow hallways)

Adaptable design: design that can be easily changed (wheelchair ramp added)

Think about… What is the definition of housing? How does housing meet people’s

physical needs? How does housing satisfy psychological

needs? Tell how housing reflects identity Why and how do housing needs change

during the course of the life cycle?

Resources Anderson, D., Livingston, A., Perrin, L.

Venzon, C. (2007). Homes and Interiors. McGraw Hill/Glencoe. Peoria, Illinois.