COMMUNITY CITY LIVING: A NEW LIFESTYLE HOUSING PARADIGM

Abstract

Singapore is beginning to undergo key demographic changes that have begun to impact the social and cultural landscape. New housing solutions are needed to address the sociodemographic forces of change: - new household forms that are growing rapidly - an ageing population - work-at-home and lifelong learning - diversity of lifestyle needs and lifestyle changes

New household formations such as singles, dinkies (dual-income, no kids), small nuclear families and elderly households are growing rapidly. These models all have their individual lifestyle needs which are diverse, changing and cannot be met by a single standard form.

This thesis attempts to explore apartment housing design concepts that would address the needs of these households by uncovering the varied housing and lifestyle needs of these groups of people. Key design issues of flexibility, privacy, collectivity are explored from the angle of these new social patterns and lifestyle tendencies, as well as the addressing the urban parameter of integrated city-living and elderly-friendly design.