Order and chaos : articulating support, housing transformation

This thesis presents an exploration on the theme of order and chaos, as a formal and social phenomenon, particularly as it relates to housing. The work stems from an attraction to the messy vitality we find in certain environments (such as back alleys), and searches for an understanding of the relationship that exists between the chaos and the underlying order. Chaos is defined and defended, as a crucial component of our lives in social and urbanistic terms. A parallel interest is revealed in a review of particular 20th century art. Modern housing approaches are critiqued in terms of an order/chaos relationship, and compared to non-western and vernacular precedents. A historic mill site is analyzed, considered for its transformational qualities and housing potential. Formal explorations and a design proposal address issues of housing for transformation in the existing mill buildings and in a new support structure. A design methodology, appropriate to the topic, models and records transformation based on individual's interventions.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

1990

Author dc:creator

• Boehm, William Hollister

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Thomas Chastain.

• 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/1721.1/64503

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/64503