Do habitante à habitação adaptável

Abstract

Over time, the way of thinking about housing has revealed itself to be in constant transformation, accompanying cultural, social, and technological movements. From the Industrial Revolution to Postmodernism, through contemporary family diversity and the challenges of the digital era, housing has faced a continuous need to adapt to new realities. This dissertation raises questions about how contemporary housing can respond to current social and family diversity, integrating lessons from the past and proposing the concepts of flexibility and adaptability as central responses. The analysis articulates the historical evolution of housing, from standardization and functionalism to postmodern critiques. It critically examines the impact of technological transformations, social changes, and the pandemic, while reflecting on the privatization of spaces, community living, and the emotional and identity-related dimensions that transform a house into a home. The research is organized into three chapters: the first explores the meaning of home as a space of shelter, memory, community, and individuality; the second discusses adaptive architectural solutions throughout history, from the bourgeois house to technological systems and the transformations into a digital era brought about by the pandemic; the third presents three case studies illustrating strategies of spatial flexibility and adaptability while revisiting the themes of the previous chapters through critical analysis: the LifeEdited1 apartment, Steven Holl's apartments in Fukuoka, and the rehabilitation of the Grand Parc housing complex in Bordeaux by Lacaton&Vassal. Finally, the dissertation questions the limits and potential of housing flexibility, reflecting on the balance between innovation, functionality, and the preservation of the emotional and human character of the home.