Mediated Dwelling: Reconstructing the Contemporary Home Space

As online social media platforms become dominant areas for self-expression, professional opportunity, and cultural exchange, the role of typical residential architecture in contemporary society is changing to meet the demands of this visually driven and performative culture. Social media’s emphasis on aesthetic appeal, shareability, and curated authenticity challenges traditional architectural paradigms that prioritize functionality, spatial quality, and privacy. This change coincides with the broader Western cultural shift in ideals and social dynamics of the contemporary user. The home space, a once-private refuge, has been redefined in the age of online social media, where physical space is endlessly curated to align with the logic of digital consumption. By engaging with the interplay between physical design and digital representation, this thesis is uniquely positioned to showcase how the contemporary home space can serve as both a lived space and a platform for mediated interaction. Thesis statement This thesis explores how modern social media and its creation has the ability to transform the home space and its social dynamics, arguing that contemporary residential design must create homes that serve both physical and mediated functions. The design exploration serves as an allegory, revealing the home space beyond its traditional limits under the influence of social media. Advisor: Zachary Porter