The Architect's Perspective

Abstract

This paper examines the issue of quality in housing design through reference to the manner in which the living space is utilised. Treating spatial structures as territories of interaction, a new set of parameters—defined as hierarchies of area and order—are used to assess the impact of functionalist housing design upon the usage of living space and hence quality. A series of case studies undertaken in Lisbon are employed to highlight the observation that the fixed model of human behaviour implied in functionalist design fails to support a flexible usage of the dwelling space. The paper concludes that there is a consequent need to develop spatially oriented models of housing design.