DWELLING AS PRODUCT: PERPECTIVES ON HOUSING, USERS AND THE EXPANSION OF DESIGN

This dissertation investigates dwelling as a systemic product from the perspectives of housing production, users and design. Bridging design research with housing studies, the work draws parallels between the urban dwelling and other industrial products and contemplates the role of conceptual and strategic design in the qualitative diversification of housing. The study comprises two empirical cases from Finland. The first case explores the commodification of dwelling as evidenced by duplicable housing concepts. The second case looks at the everyday user experience of dwelling. The study shows that dwelling as a product extends beyond housing architecture, constituting a bundle of designable elements across the built environment, including technology, services, the community and ownership. The elements serve the value-seeking strategies of producers and users. The book provides novel theoretical and practical insight for housing professionals and researchers alike.