Super-size to Super-small: McMansions, Tiny Houses, and applied New Materialism

Title

Super-size to Super-small: McMansions, Tiny Houses, and applied New Materialism

Author

Brianne Moodie

Faculty Sponsor

Lars Söderlund

Gavin Keulks

Date

6/30/2019

Abstract

Every object that humans encounter contains its own unique history—from the location that it was sourced from to the hands that shaped it. There is a branch of philosophy that gives credence to the inanimate, New Materialism. I have taken the principles of this school of thought and applied them to two kinds of residences: the McMansion and the Tiny House. Currently these structures are most often judged on the basis of sustainability, livability, or visual coherence. However, these subjective standards for judgement do not bring a viewer any closer to being able to explain how the residence styles function. New Materialism will provide a consistent toolkit to use when encountering architecture, a practice that honors the space more than subjective judgements have the capacity to. I chose to introduce these structures before applying New Materialism to them; having a grasp on the unique personality of each space will lend strength to the New Materialist argument that all objects shine with potential. This work closes with two short explorations of the quiet ways in which are spaces are alive. By the end of this thesis, I hope to impart an appreciation and awe for the mundane, the under-appreciated, and the over-hyped.

Type

Text

Honors Thesis

Department

Honors Program

Language

eng

Rights

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Identifier

honors_theses/190