Expectations in Material Culture & Re-thinking our Separation of Space

There is a pressing need to shift present expectations of urban lifestyle in contemporary western society — to reconsider how we can sustain ourselves and our planet. Shifting understanding of our relationship to our built environment may play a role in adjusting expectations of the future. In doing so, we can start to look towards alternate ideas and new possibilities for the material culture found within the home. This thesis seeks to expose how we see and organize our homes through aesthetics, language and meaning. It considers how this affects our perception of our built and natural environments — our separation of space — in a social sense. A generative process-led design practice is used to find means, through artifact, to have others (first the designer, and in turn, users/consumers) think critically about current understandings of urban lifestyle, and aspirations connected to desired standards of living. A series of small projects that explore themes of care, control and expectations are used as a catalyst for discussion. The intent is not to find solutions for sustainable design but rather to communicate and promote consideration about sustainability, the home environment, and material culture.