Date of Award
Spring 6-1-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Architecture (MArch)
Department
Architecture
First Advisor
Malcolm Rio
Second Advisor
Pablo Castillo Luna
Third Advisor
Aaron Tobey
Abstract
Abstract: A project that rethinks domesticity through the lens of mobility, focusing on curating and unfolding personal narratives within the confines of a suitcase. Domesticity, as I perceive it, transcends static locations and is a dynamic accumulation of individual and collective histories shaped by intimate connections between, but not limited to, human and non-humans. In this context, the suitcase symbolizes both confinement and autonomy, embodying the transient nature and fluidity of modern life. The project draws inspiration from the scrutiny of x-ray security checks, where individuals and their suitcases undergo examination. The suitcase becomes a focal point for exploring identity formation under transient environments and socially constructed confinements. By proposing a collection of mobile suitcases capable of transforming into a personalized domestic space, the suitcase is a potential yet unstable vessel that can invite contemplation on the smallest viable unit of personal autonomy within spatial constraints through the act of packing, unpacking, shaping, adorning, showcasing, etc. It prompts reflection on the smallest unit of spatial autonomy an individual can possess and the act of curating, decorating, and displaying within that confinement, the thesis aims to stimulate discussions around the notions of rootedness and permanence around domesticity, as well as the creation of spaces from a suitcase and the potential for expanding individual autonomy within such constraints.
Recommended Citation
Hu, Yifan, "“Modern Nomads”: Unfolding Domesticity" (2024). Masters Theses. 1216.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1216
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