Alternative Housing: Furniture as an Architectural Techtonic

This thesis project is inspired by the increasing demands for housing in Hong Kong, along with many complex social issues within. Today, Hong Kong developers strive to increase their revenue through compact housing designs, in order to facilitate many who cannot afford to buy or rent in larger living units. At times, these housing solutions are deemed inhumane and are highly criticised for their failure to address one’s basic spatial requirements within living space. The project strives to address such problem through studying different furnitures designed specifically for compact apartments and draw correlations between their design and organising principles with architecture. Furnitures are sometimes considered mobile and separated from architectural space. Yet, fusing furnitures into architecture, such as incorporating them as part of the structural system or spatial design makes furniture an essential techtonic feature and therefore, potentially addresses the problematic design methodologies of compact living spaces in Hong Kong.

<Chang, Gary. “Hong Kong Micro Apartment by Gary Chang.” Digital image. Hong Kong Micro Apartment by Gary Chang – 24 Rooms / 344 Sq Ft. Accessed September 22, 2016. http://www.jebiga.com/hong-kong-micro-apartment-gary-chang/.>

<Nacása & Partners Inc. “Storage Units Are Envisioned in a Do-it-yourself Spirit with Absolute Flexibility in Mind.” Digital image. Shigeru Ban X Muji: House of Furniture at House Vision. May 18, 2013. Accessed September 22, 2016. http://www.designboom.com/architecture/shigeru-ban-x-muji-house-of-furniture-at-house-vision/.>