Highly nurtured : child development in a high-rise typology
Date
2019Citation:
Mosley, S. (2019).Highly nurtured: Child development in a high-rise typology (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional)). Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10652/4628Permanent link to Research Bank record:
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/4628Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION:
How can the high-rise typology be better designed to cater to the needs of young families and support the mental and physical health of both parents and children?
ABSTRACT:
Currently, the population is growing at an exponential and unsustainable rate. Land is becoming scarce and cities are becoming denser, with the current solution being to‘build vertically’. As people become more reliant on high-rise buildings, it is becoming apparent that the current typology does not meet the psychological and physical needsof humans. This creates a somewhat hostile social and psychological environment forthe building’s inhabitants.
The largest growing demographic within the high-rise typology is young families.Despite statistics, architects and developers are choosing not to design and meet the needs of these families due to developers’ economic priorities. As a result, young children who occupy high-rise apartments are at a higher risk of suffering from negative health effects during their most important years of development. These effects include numerous behavioural, mental and physical health difficulties.
Within this project the environmental design needs of young families, in particular children, are identified and the deficiencies of high-rise apartments are revealed. This project also highlights the effects the existing high-rise typology has on families, revealing how inadequate the current reality is.
Further research is divided into two inter-related design stages. Design stage one examines the current typology and investigates an existing case study, which is then redesigned to suit the needs of young families. This stage produces design elements which can be implemented in the existing typology.
Findings from the first phase inform the second phase that redesigns the existing typology, using the same site. Phase two aims to result in the optimal high-rise typology design, meeting the needs of young families.
With children at the forefront of society and our future, it is crucial that we design environments which nurture and support their development. Architecture can be about the people, not the profit.