Chp 1

Define housing and briefly describe how it has evolved

Analyze the basic physical and psychological needs that housing satisfies.

Compare and contrast housing needs among people of different ages and lifestyles.

Assess the importance of building homes that follow the concept of universal design.

Home provides a safe environment in which to live

Housing is any structure built for people to live in.

Three basic types:oNaturaloPortableoPermanent

Used whatever the land had to offer.o Caves, rocks, cliffs, pits or holes

Archaeologists – scientists who study history through the relics and remains of old civilizations.

Found homes were often clustered around water, sources of food or locations people could protect or defend.

Early towns/villages formed to meet needs of food and protection

Primitive people survived by hunting, fishing and gathering wild fruits.Had to move frequently to be near new sources of foodDevised shelters to be taken apart, transported and reassembled at next location.Material were bone, wood, animal skins or grasses. TepeesNomads are people who wander from place to place in search of food for their grazing herds.Yurts are transportable circular dwellings made of thick wool felt covering a wooden frame.

Development of farming, people did not have to continually move to find food.

Shelters depended upon materials available nearby.

As agricultural methods improved granaries came about. Store and preserve surplus grain. Began building shelters for possessions.

People who fished settled along shores of rivers or lakes.

Largely based on standing in the community.

Wealthy and powerful lived in stately, elaborate dwellings.

Became important to select a good defensive site – hilltop, mountainside or cliff. Castles, moats and high battlements were security features.

Homes of the rich in earlier times were not always comfortableo Cold and draftyo Little light from windows only

Physical Needs – all things the body needs to survive: air, sunlight, shelter, sleep and foodo Shelter – elements of nature have

influenced how people build their houses

o Northeast: cold snowy winters so houses have low ceilings to contain heat, steep roofs to shed snow.

o Southwestern: thick clay walls and flat roof of timber and clay tiles – keeps interior cool.

Sleep – Japanese have sliding paper screens to separate rooms – sleep on padded quilts on the floor.

Food – Indonesian homes living rooms serve a kitchen.

United States – social occasions and holidays focus around meals.

Safety & Security – one reason homes were grouped together. Fences, locks etc

Psychological needs: needs related to thoughts and emotions.

Include the need to feel a sense of identity and express oneself o Love & belonging – home is primary

setting for family – children first learn to interact w/others. Small towns – know everyone

“Planned Communities” sense of neighborhood –roomy front porches for visiting.

o Privacy: people need contact, also need alone time. Bathrooms and sleeping areas.Privacy can be arranged through furniture selection & arrangement.

o Home offices on the rise –specific place to conduct business

o Identity: people’s tastes, values, attitudes and personalities show others who they are and determine how they live their lives.

o Lifestyle or way of living influences choice of housing.People choose housing that reflects their values.

Creativity: pioneers were creative in building housing.

We now decide on colors of paint, furnishings, furniture arrangements

Space for hobbies

Housing needs are influenced by the stages in life.

Not uncommon for people to move a number of times.

Family Life Cycle: stages of life from infancy to old age.

beginning, expanding, developing, launching, retiring.

Disabilities creates new housing needs

Universal design: designing homes to fit people with a wide variety of physical needs and abilities.o Lever type doorknobso Counters of varying heights.o Adjustable shelving/closetso Ground level entrance

One challenge is to continue expanding universal design.

Make better housing available to low and middle income families.

Develop housing that relates to natural and social environment (taking care of natural resources & locating close to conveniences)

The major external and uncontrollable factors that influence an organization's decision making, and affect its performance and strategies. These factors include the economic factors; demographics; legal, political, and social conditions; technological changes; and natural forces.