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Affordable Housing for Artists: A Sustainable Prototype
Abstract
Although many architects and builders feel
that designing for both sustainability and
affordability is impossible, I believe that the only
way we can afford to live is sustainably. Through
the design of housing for artists, this thesis will
demonstrate how a building can both meet the
needs of its inhabitants and practice sustainable
principles in a beautiful design. This Austin,
Texas model can be used as a prototype for similar
housing in other cities and for other
environmentally friendly buildings.
Sustainability is a crucial issue for the
energy-guzzling United States. The Rocky
Mountain Institute states that the biggest energy
consumers in the US "are not cars, but homes. In
1990, for example, American households consumed
$110 billion worth of energy." This project
investigates means to design a building that uses as
little energy as possible while maintaining a high
quality of life.
Austin is an ideal site because of its
commitment to building sustainably, as established
by the Austin Green Builder Program which
"assists owners and designers to develop sustainable
business practices" and offers an environmental
rating system for residential construction. The
Green Building Conference defines sustainability
as, "products, systems, buildings, and land
planning that create and promote an environment
for healthy human living which can be sustained
into the future-unpolluted by its waste or
byproducts; thus, preserving and maintaining our
natural resources for future generations."
As an architecture student, I am intrigued
by the issue of architecture as art. Looking beyond
the narrow view of architecture as merely form
manipulation to a broader base which considers the
needs of the building's inhabitants and its impact
on the earth, in addition to its form, is essential.
As a former art major, I am interested in helping
artists achieve a quality lifestyle by providing a
space where they can afford to live and produce their
art.
The struggle for artists to earn a living is
a common theme throughout the history of art.
The shortage of affordable housing in American
cities further contributes to their plight. My goal
is to create housing that is efficient, less expensive
to operate, and therefore, more affordable. This
project studies different types of community living
and precedents for both artist housing and affordable
housing in the US. I will advance these models
further in the direction of energy efficiency without
sacrificing their beauty or socio-cultural
significance in my design for a community of 16-
21 artists.
Citation
Ness, M. (1998). Affordable Housing for Artists: A Sustainable Prototype. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /6713.