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Abstract:

Thousands of years ago, indigenous communities developed housing solutions that harmoniously adapted to various life changes. This demonstrates how, in vernacular architecture, flexible housing solutions were deeply intertwined with residents' living habits and patterns of adaptation. Building on this ancestral principle, this master's thesis addresses a critical gap in contemporary flexible housing solutions, which are often shaped by architects' perspectives rather than reflecting the actual adaptive behaviors of residents. The root cause of this gap is the lack of methods and tools that allow architects and researchers to effectively capture the complex, nuanced and implicit adaptive behaviors of today’s residents. To address this gap, this thesis explores the potential of using play as an in-depth qualitative method to uncover laypeople’s tacit knowledge regarding housing preferences and spatial modification patterns in response to life changes.  

To achieve this, the study combines an integrative literature review method to establish the conceptual framework, followed by an iterative hands-on design process to develop a game prototype. This game was then tested with volunteers, employing qualitative techniques such as observation, interviews, and palimpsest mapping to collect and analyze data. The results demonstrate that play enables participants to express their spatial preferences in a more intuitive and organic way, revealing insights that traditional methods might overlook.  

Ultimately, this thesis argues for a paradigm shift in flexible housing design, moving from a purely architect-driven approach to one that integrates the adaptive behaviors and preferences of residents. By adopting play as a housing preference study method, the research aims to lay a foundation towards a more human-centered approach that fosters resilience and enhances social sustainability. 

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