Built environment analysis

For this 3-4 page paper, you will be writing an analysis of a "built environment," by which I mean buildings and human structures. You have two choices for how to approach this essay. Both choices involve some amount of research; do not just sit in front of a building and guess at its history. If you need help figuring out how to begin your research, you might have a conversation with a librarian at the Stonehill library.

Option A
Choose a building (or closely-related group of buildings) to analyze. This could be anything from your Stonehill dorm to a skyscraper in Boston to a department store to your hometown post office, but it should be a building you have seen in person and feel familiarity with. Research some basic background about the building's history, and then analyze what the physical structure of the building tells us about its social and cultural function.

Here are some questions you might begin with.

1) History: when was the building built? By whom and for what purpose? Does its current use conform with its original use, and if it's changed, why? What is the building called and why? For these questions especially, you should not speculate but find some actual facts.
2) What is the building made of? What does its shape and structure look like? What does that external appearance tell us about the building's function? Does it have a particular style of architecture? Does it attempt to look futuristic; historical; utilitarian; playful...? and why?
3) What do its surroundings look like and how does the building fit into its context? Does it blend seamlessly; stick out in contrast; reflect certain elements but not others?
4) Who uses the building, and for what? How does the building fit (or not fit) that population and that purpose?
5) What kinds of social relationships does the architecture of the building invite, and what kinds does it discourage? What kinds of cultural roles does it value? Does it imply a certain kind of family? a certain kind of community? a certain kind of work atmosphere? a certain kind of consumer?

Option B
Interview a family member or two in order to write a brief history of the homes your family members have inhabited over time. You should analyze two or three different homes over two or three generations (so, for instance, your current family house, your mother's childhood house, and perhaps her mother's house). Write an analysis of what the physical structure of those homes tells us about ideas of family and the larger social and cultural role of the home, and how those ideas have changed over the generations. Some ideas to consider:

1) What do those structures look like on the outside and what values does that appearance project? Consider: the style of architecture; materials used; lawn/garden/green space or lack thereof; driveway, garage, outbuildings; etc.
2) What is the relationship of the building to the street? to other buildings in the neighborhood? Do the building and its surroundings encourage social relationships with neighbors? Does it encourage privacy? How would a visitor approach the building: on foot? in a car?
3) How are the rooms laid out and what does that arrangement tell you? What social function does each room have? Do some rooms have more than one function? Are some rooms "private" family space and others more "public"? What attitude does the physical structure suggest toward outside visitors? toward play and work?
4) Does the home's architecture suggest particular roles for men, women, and children? Do those roles change from generation to generation, or do they persist over time?