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Rice University

House loops: Upcycling the single-family house

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The thesis takes the position that the single-family house will soon move into a consumer cycle of disposability similar to that of products like single-use cameras. This analogy suggests a new house type that uses such material and acquisition cycles to its advantage, creating a service loop within it's very production and distribution. The result is an intelligent object that has the ability to recreate itself many times over by cycling its own material components. While following existing HUD guidelines governing their delivery, construction, and removal, these house units would also be mapped with a second (a third, a fourth...) life cycle for each component material. In addition, the building would be tethered to the original manufacturer and destined for resale, to be de-manufactured and upcycled into new house units or new material products at the end of each life.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Architecture
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Architecture
Grantor
Rice University
Year dc:date.issued
2001

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Van Yarick, Todd Roy
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Krumwiede, Keith

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17476
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/17476

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Rice University
Base URL
repository.rice.edu/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Van Yarick, Todd Roy. House loops: Upcycling the single-family house. Masters thesis, Rice University, 2001. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/17476