Beginning with the critique of the typological single family "dream house," this thesis incorporates issues of gender concepts, image sustenance and consumerism to expose how the image of the body in the perception of self is manifested and sustained within the contemporary suburban landscape. An analogy is made between maintaining the image of self through the manipulation of the physical body--appearance--and the representation of the single family house--presence. Feminist Theory is employed to investigate how suppressive spatial relationships can control and reinforce predominant architectural and social constructs. The project demonstration challenges traditional design and decision-making processes for the design of an elementary school.