Sustainable Roots: Utilizing Historic Technologies for Modern Housing

Viewed through a post-humanist lens, this thesis explores the reconciliation of indigenous, historic, and contemporary climate technologies to design housing that exists in harmony with the environment. Addressing the dual crises of housing scarcity and climate change, the project challenges Western post-industrial approaches, embracing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) as a sustainable alternative. This thesis uses the AIA Framework for Design Excellence as a foundational guide but simultaneously critiques its scope, seeking to adapt and extend its principles to better align with Posthumanist housing principles. The design responds to specific climate conditions, analyzed using the Koppen-Geiger model, to ensure resilience, community integration, and environmental symbiosis. This thesis employs a systematic approach to integrate traditional, historical, and contemporary climate technologies into sustainable multi-family housing models. Central to this methodology is the development of a master taxonomy of climate technologies, which informs a matrix to evaluate their universality and adaptability across diverse climate zones. The matrix will serve as the foundation for designing site-specific housing prototypes,beginning with Cfa (Subtropical Humid, Atlanta) and Dfa (Humid Continental, Northeastern Ohio) zones. These initial models will guide subsequent explorations, either refining designs within a single climate classification or expanding to encompass more zones in the Köppen-Geiger system. The process prioritizes resilience, environmental symbiosis, and community integration, aligning with Posthumanist principles while critically expanding the AIA Framework for Design Excellence to develop housing that harmonizes with both ecological and human concerns.