Beyond Conventions: Challenging the Tract House Typology

Under the influence of mass production, suburban tract house developments in the Greater Toronto Area have made standardized assumptions of domesticity within the single-family detached dwelling typology to avoid risk and maximize profit. The conservative design strategies fail to support continuously changing occupational needs over time as there is little consideration for open building design strategies that allow for spatial alteration. Future changes to the fixed layout, structure, and services require complex and costly interventions - creating financial barriers for many. As a result, the needs of the GTA's rapidly evolving demographics are underserved, as homebuyers are required to conform their occupation to the limited range of simplified design variations or move to a new residence in order to meet their evolving needs. This thesis challenges the conventions of the single-family detached dwelling to prove that the outdated housing industry is built-in obsolescence by the market. Through the deployment of mass customization, the design for greater variety suggests that alternative design solutions that support continuous and periodic change do exist. By future-proofing suburban housing, prior to construction, various possibilities of spatial outcomes are unlocked that extend the useful occupation lifespan of the building.