Browsing by Author "Gullick, Kati ann"

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    An Infrastructure for Aging: Multigenerational Housing at Houston's Park & Rides
    (2021-04-30) Gullick, Kati ann; Utting, Brittany; Finley, Dawn
    Aging is inevitable; it comes with changes not just physical, but also social. Networks of informal care become critical for the wellbeing of the elderly and increasingly challenging for the young. Risk of isolation and loneliness are exacerbated by ageism, segregated housing typologies, and limited mobility. This thesis seeks to address these challenges through a new type of multi-generational suburban housing located at existing commuter transit hubs in Houston, TX. The project centers on the needs of both the elderly and people who make up the networks of informal care that they are a part of. Age-segregated housing models represent one third of the housing units for people over 55 in the US. These developments range in scale from the assisted-living home to entire suburban developments like The Villages in Florida. Deed restrictions and community by-laws keep the young out, while a decreased mandate for equally accessible outside spaces keeps the old in. In addition to this spatial divide, age-segregated housing drives social and economic wedges. The effectiveness of informal care networks is limited and the burden on caregivers is increased. In many cases, hired domestic care becomes necessary - something that the vast majority of America’s elderly cannot afford. This project exists in opposition to these housing types. Occupying the Park & Ride flat lots dotting Beltway 8 in Houston, TX, it proposes an intentionally multigenerational development. Private units center around shared amenities while also offering privacy and independence for individual residents. Spaces for planned activities, childcare, and work activate outdoor areas and provide opportunity for consolidation of domestic labor and community building. The entire project is elevated above a level of parking to both preserve the existing functionality of the Park & Ride, and in response to Houston’s propensity to flood. With 300 units of varying sizes, it introduces diverse density to the existing suburban fabric. The site - an existing commuter hub operated by Houston METRO also allows for the potential of car-free living in an otherwise car dominated suburban landscape. An Infrastructure for Aging does address the physical realities of aging through grab bars and elevators, but more importantly it exists as a piece of social infrastructure - supporting not just seniors but also those who care for them.