Beyond the Self (Storage): Belongings in the 21st Century
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Does the architectural act of assembly prioritize the individual or the collective? Is there a way of aggregating architectural units such that they both support and express individuality and render a coherent collective? Drawing on political theory, this thesis provides possible solutions to end the stalemate between self and group expression vis-à-vis the (formerly) personal storage unit. The methodology embraces entropy and automation and leverages gravity-based 3D physics simulations. A larger than average square footage for each storage “unit” reconceptualizes the building as collective-based rather than subject-based. In considering the main tenets of the site’s zoning, the building acknowledges a particular collective’s will, but also pushes back, for example in its liberal interpretation of the setback rules. This push-and-pull suggests continual revision and debate, as does the execution of the program; collectively, democratically, it aspires to be continually in definition and redefinition.
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Aguillard, Francis Drake. "Beyond the Self (Storage): Belongings in the 21st Century." (2019) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/105437.