topics/questions
week1 & week2
Privacy
Q: How have changing window treatments and evolving concepts of privacy in architectural design reflected shifts in societal norms, gender roles, and the politics of personal space over time? Hyp: The evolution of window treatments and privacy in architectural design...
Linoleum
Q: How did the widespread adoption of linoleum flooring in the early 20th century expose the intersections of class, race, and the illusion of modernity and the American Dream in urban spaces, and what does this reveal about the politics of design and access? Hyp: The...
Healthy Design
Q: What does the widespread normalization of smoking in mid-20th century homes reveal about architecture's role in perpetuating or challenging public health inequities, and how is this role shifting today? Hyp: Healthy spaces are just spaces. Contemporary design has...
Modularity
Q: How has the history of modular housing both contributed to and challenged architectural practices of spatial (in)justice, particularly regarding access to affordable housing and community development? Hyp: Modular housing, with its problematic past of reinforcing...
Floor Plans & Number of Rooms
My question revolves around the floor plans of homes and how they have changed. Specifically the number of rooms and what their purpose is. As time has progressed, there are less rooms with specific purposes. Multi-purpose rooms have become more popular especially in...
Dining Rooms as Reflections of Family and Closeness
Throughout time, dining rooms have been spaces where families and others gather to share large or small humble meals. However, this trend has noticeably taken a different form in the United States, molding into something reminiscent of the past and adapting to modern...
Kitchen Changes Over Time
Description: Over time, the popular styles change, and there are advancements in the technology in appliances. It is interesting to look at the similarities and differences from past kitchens compared to what's popular today.
Media Portrayals of the Feminine Role of a Nuclear Family
How does media conceptualize the feminine role of a nuclear family?
Evolution of the Kitchen
Topic: Identifying ways in which the kitchen layout has evolved over time, including appliance sizes, organization, and the addition of new items such as the kitchen island. Hypothesis: As typical residential spaces began to evolve, grow bigger, and need space for...
Small spaces design
Research question: What design principles and innovations in small house design have evolved through the lens of House Beautiful Magazine? Description: I would like to explore how House Beautiful Magazine has documented and influenced the evolution of design...
Living Rooms
Short description: The topic that I have chosen to further develop is how living rooms have changed across the years of interior architecture. Specifically, I am interested in looking into specific elements of living rooms, such as furniture used, shape, and styles....
A Gardens Influence on Architecture
Topic: How do gardens influence the architecture of a home? I’ve always been interested in how a garden can influence the architecture and aesthetics of a home. In House Beautiful, I was hoping to explore what role the garden played in different periods of time....
Kitchens over time
I was interested in seeing how kitchens have changed over time. I wanted to see what materials were used and how many kitchen appliances would be there. I noticed that over time kitchens have become bigger but what has stayed the same is the use of sinks,...
Renovations / Remodels
Topic: How has the practice of remodeling/renovating shifted in the past century? Hypothesis: The practice of remodeling/renovating has shifted in the past century due to the economic climate, societal trends, material advancements, and increased knowledge of...
How has wood been incorporated as focal points in spaces throughout different time periods?
Wood is a beautiful material and has many different uses, whether that be architecturally, aesthetically, or both! My question is in regards to what ways wood has been used as a main point of view or area of focus for viewers over the different eras. Based on my...
Project Presentation
INTRODUCTION: What caught my eye after perusing finished design projects across the decades were the majorly different representations of overall projects between generations. To present a finished project in totality- floor plans, perspectives, and now more than...
Furniture Materials
Description: This question concerns how the main materials for furniture have shifted through the years. Hypothesis: Since the Industrial Revolution, steel has become the preferred material for furniture because it is faster to produce. Explanation: The Industrial...
Living Room Styles Over Time
Topic: How have living room styles changed or stayed the same over time? Comprehensive living room schemes have both changed over time and retained important details; these details could be in terms of intricate craftsmanship or antiquity. Hypothesis: Over time,...
Color in a Home
Why are women highly portrayed in the magazines rather than men? How did advanced technology change the kitchen? Did fashion have an influence on interior design? How has the amount of color displayed in a home changed?
Perception of old and new
Introduction: Based on popular media, personal anecdotes, etc., there is a perception that, during the early part of the 20th century, there was generally a positive association with new products, technologies, trends, etc. However, as time went on, there was a...