An Integrated Living Home Exhibit In Support of MA Thesis Review November 28, 2016 MA Candidate - Shannon Matthew Reece Thesis Committee Chair - Cindy Gilbert Thesis Advisor - Tim McGee Thesis Committee Members - Curt McNamara and Hans Klein-Hewett, PLA, ASLA P. 1 Children playing in the gardens of Grow Community, Bainbridge Island, WA. 1 P. 2 MCAD SD-7020 // GRADUATE SUSTAINABILITY THESIS PROJECT // SHANNON REECE // 11.28.2016 1 Grow Community, Bainbridge Island, WA, November 1, 2016, http://growbainbridge.com/. INTENT Inside this report the reader will follow the Three diagrams followed that gave insight into process of exploration and design for a how all of the sub-systems within the home marketing and educational exhibit. The intent for related to each other and how the house related the exhibit is to showcase and explain the to larger super-systems outside. Integrated Living Home in such a way that the target user (25-40 year-old IKEA shopping home An emphasis on human-centered design led owners and builders in the Midwest) becomes to identifying stakeholders and creating a user convinced that this kind of home should be the profile based on a group of thirteen participants new standard for the housing industry in the representing the target demographic. Several Midwest. relevant design principles were explored that would assist in making the information A Brief Overview relevant and accessible to the user. Other strategies from the field of education were also To begin, the Integrated Living Home was defined considered that would increase the chances for for the reader. Five areas of concern followed more meaningful experiences and deeper that explained the urgency for this kind of home. retention. Finally, several cutting-edge Then, as it was necessary to become familiar technologies that would promote active with existing projects that already included many engagement with the exhibit were examined of the features of Integrated Living Homes, eight and tested. examples were rated in several categories according to how close each came to a Two rapid prototypes gave insight as to how theoretical ideal. some of the featured technologies might be used. After deciding on a space plan oriented Moving deeper into the research phase, one of around both a sequence of time and an indoor the eight examples was chosen and served as garden oasis, a more comprehensive and robust a brief case study. Next, an evaluation against exhibit was created. Life’s Principles determined its viability and informed the design of the exhibit. Next, an Finally, the conclusion explained what insights explanation was given for why The Adherence were gained during the design process and what Loop Model was incorporated into the design as areas presented numerous opportunities for a catalyst for positive behavioral change. future expansion. P. 3 MCAD SD-7020 // GRADUATE SUSTAINABILITY THESIS PROJECT // SHANNON REECE // 11.28.2016 SUMMARY Asking The Big Questions Applying the Golden Circle. 2 What? What: An Integrated Living Home is a place where all sub-systems How? work together in one interdependent relationship to create a thriving environment. It is a home that produces more Why? than it consumes. How: An Integrated Living Home exhibit can help overcome negative perceptions and establish new behavior patterns in home owners. Why: Integrated Living Homes are in a constant state of improve- ment - which is good for people and good for the planet. Midwest home owners & builders need to know more about them and perceive them as tangible, summary P. 4 affordable, and desirable. MCAD SD-7020 // GRADUATE SUSTAINABILITY THESIS PROJECT // SHANNON REECE // 11.28.2016 2 Simon Sineck, The Golden Circle, November 1, 2016, https://www.startwithwhy.com/. An Integrated Living Home Exhibit Contents Project Introduction 6 -20 Project Execution 21 Project Outcome 30 Conclusion 37 Sources Cited 39 Appendices 42 INTRODUCTION Probing The Big Questions Unfortunately, it is the void of relevant What? Sustainability Challenge information in this area that perpetuates the An integrated living home is a place where all Current housing paradigms and industries are other four. sub-systems work together in one deep-rooted and difficult to dislodge, interdependent relationship to create a thriving especially, it seems, in the Midwest where trends Wasteful environment. It is a home that produces more trickle in slowly from the edges. The issue is not This means that they either consume far more than it consumes. An exhibit of an integrated about style or fashion. The issue is about finite resources than needed or don’t make living home educates consumers on how it all creating a thriving culture. Current building effective use of those resources - whether the works. methods contribute to substantial discussion is about living space, energy, time, or environmental strain. This strain could be material goods. Nine sub-systems will be featured: alleviated with the adoption of a new building paradigm - the integrated living home. Take energy for instance. Residential and 1. Shelter commercial buildings consume about 40% of the 2. Water Regional climate is another reason why the Mid- nation’s energy and represent a prime target for 3. Food west will be the focus for this thesis. Many of the reducing carbon emissions. 3 4. Waste Management living homes that are promoted do not come 5. Energy close to fitting the challenges of harsh, Together, energy used to power homes and light 6. Heating / Cooking seasonal, and humid climates or the presence of duty vehicles contributes to approximately 44 7. Cooling / Refrigeration bugs. The integrated living home must percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the 8. Health accommodate all regional climates. United States. Technology that enables 9. Connectivity distributed renewable energy generation to Five major areas of concern should be supply power to homes and cars seamlessly is Though there are other sub-systems, like social considered and corrected within the exhibit. one of the key potential pathways to address 4 interaction and community, that could be treated Typical single-family dwellings in the Midwest climate change. separately, yet for the sake of expedience they are wasteful, unhealthy, fragile, and hard to will be considered part of other sub-systems manage. The last area of concern is a lack of Unhealthy (which in this case includes health and food). education on the affects and benefits of The typical Midwest single family dwelling is integrated living home design and construction. 3 Jaklevic, Mary Chris. German Passive House Standards Get Makeover For Midwest. Midwest Energy News. October, 2014. http://midwestenergynews. introduction P. 6 com/2014/10/22/german-passive-house-standards-get-makeover-for-midwest/. 4 The Honda Smart Home of the Future. November 1, 2016, http://www.hondasmarthome.com/ MCAD SD-7020 // GRADUATE SUSTAINABILITY THESIS PROJECT // SHANNON REECE // 11.28.2016 INTRODUCTION unhealthy in a number of ways. The materials Typical dwellings is that they do not foster with electronic devices saying, “we lose our own largely used in home-building are toxic. But connectedness with the community that autonomy as technology strives to render us, it is not just the materials that are unhealthy. surrounds it - both nature and people. John through its devices, always on.” 8 This longing The design of the home itself doesn’t promote Thackara, author of “In the Bubble,” says that the for a simpler, more mindful way of living is what slowness but instead perpetuates speed and cost of speed is not just environmental. We also motivates people to live in places like Grow disconnectedness from nature, neighbors and pay a social and personal price. 6 Community in Bainbridge Island, WA, where community. residents enjoy what they refer to as a 5-minute The basic building block of community is the lifestyle. In this community all conveniences are Building related illness, sometimes referred to as cluster of a few houses gathered together within easy walking distance. 9 sick building syndrome, is a 21st century illness. around a shared commons to in order to foster “There are more than 4 million registered man neighborly relationships. The made chemicals, 70,000 - 80,000 of which are disconnectedness of the current model could in common use. We know very little about the account for the current trend to redefine the health effects of most of these chemicals and American dream. Currently, the 25- to 34-year- even less about what happens when they old age group is focused more on living near interact with one another in an enclosed their peers than owning a home in the suburbs environment. We do know that many of the like their parents. They want be socially engaged chemicals found in building products are and live near work. According to the Nielsen making people ill.” 5 Company, 62% of Millennials prefer to live in mixed-use communities found in urban Without proper HEPA filters and mechanical air centers. 7 exchange system built into the ventilation system, dust, particulates, and fumes from Thackara also commented on our frenetic pace chemicals are trapped inside with people. There and the loss of slow contemplation and are other healthier solutions that should be connectedness from the rhythms of the Neighbors sharing produce at Grow Community. 10 considered. natural world through constant engagement 5 “Building Biology and the Healthy House,” Econest, November 1, 2016, https://www.econesthomes.com/natural-building-resources/articles/building- biology-and-the-healthy-house/. 6 John Thackara, In The Bubble: Designing In a Complex World, Cambridge, MA, The MIT Press, 2005, p. 33. 7 Sam Frizell, “The New American Dream is Living in a City, Not Owning a House in the Suburbs.” Time. April 25,2014, http://time.com/72281/ameri- can-housing/. 8 John Thackara, In The Bubble: Designing In a Complex World, Cambridge, MA, The MIT Press, 2005, p.