How to Design a Home as a Fitting Ecosystem

American Anthropology Association - Annual Meeting, November 22, 2008 Moderator – Elizabeth Tunstall, Ph.D. – Transdisciplinary Theory Panel A Systematic Approach to Designing a Home as a Fitting Ecosystem Christopher K. Travis Sentient Architecture, LLC Nidiant Corporation – Truehome.net E-mail – chris.travis@nidiant.com

Question: What is “home”? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],ASSUMPTIONS

What is “home” made of? (Not a house…a home!) ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Evidence that “home” exists ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

A Definition of “Home” For humans, “home” is the complex relationship between the physical characteristics of a claimed, intimate space; the experience, nature and behavior of the inhabitants of that space; and the environment in which all occur. Like a forest, a pond, a city or a living body…a “home” is an ecosystem.

Question: What is a “human being”? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],ASSUMPTIONS

What is the experience of being “human” made of? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Evidence that the experience of being “human” exists ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

How do you design a “home” to fit the experience of being human?

Particularly since most homes are shared by more than one person.

… and each of us has a unique “experience of home”!

What is stopping human-centered architectural design? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Our Homes Are in Our Heads! (But most of us think our “experience of home” is in a building and approach the problem with “how to” methods.) People make most of their choices about their homes based on emotion and instinct…then rationalize their decisions after the fact.

At Truehome  , we see a “home” as an ecosystem, so we map the behavior and features of the inhabitants’ system.

Truehome  Testing Domains ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Other techniques used to translate data into design criteria: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Evidence that it works as a systematic process ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

… and a reasonable amount of media attention.

Automating Truehome  on the Internet to facilitate delivery ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Truehome  Projects Project: Johnston Major psychological influences: Need to control social environment, self expression Major style influences: Desire to be site appropriate; California childhood (arts & crafts) Time spent in rural Italy (lifestyle and dining)

Project: Ferester Major psychological influences: , empty nest, fun and family, high level of socialization Major style influences: Rural setting; innovation, antique materials, complex finishes

Project: Raymond Major psychological influences: Final home, expression of territory, father’s lighthouse studio Major style influences: Old world architecture; Need for style that allowed tower (lighthouse).

Project: Serenity Retreat Center Major psychological influences: Religious scripture, sacred psychological healing. Major style influences: Monasteries, Nature, Biblically referenced materials, symbolic details

Christopher K. Travis Sentient Architecture, LLC Nidiant Corporation – Truehome.net E-mail – [email_address] or [email_address] Blog – http://architecture-of-life.blogspot.com Phone - 979.249.5961

How to Design a Home as a Fitting Ecosystem

How to Design a Home as a Fitting Ecosystem

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked(15)

Similar to How to Design a Home as a Fitting Ecosystem

Similar to How to Design a Home as a Fitting Ecosystem(20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded(20)

How to Design a Home as a Fitting Ecosystem