The indirect architect : linking design services and mass-production to improve workforce housing

Architects have grappled with their role in the development of prefabricated building technologies and workforce housing for the last century. Historically, the architectural profession has witnessed limited participation and a narrow impact on this building type. As mass-production increasingly becomes a viable means of developing budget housing, and as companies seek to market these building products, architects stand to grow their role within the design field. This thesis is supported by a literature review, coupled with interviews and case studies. In compiling information from existing building projects, reflections from practicing experts, and theories from written work, projections for the future role of the architect have been developed. When architects participate in the development of prefabricated housing, they exchange their role as the client's direct representative for a more amorphous identity within the indirect retailing of architectural services. This shifting role effects changes to the entrenched and specific definition of architectural responsibility.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Clouse, Carey Rose

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Reinhard Goethert.

• Architecture.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/39345

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/39345