Seyithan Ozer

This research studies the designs of existing housing stock in London in order to establish an empirical basis upon which the discussions on housing design policy, more specifically, space standards and design manuals, can be grounded. As they stand, they are not only based on minimum furniture and moving space dimensions, but also on design decisions that dictate a limited range of housing typologies. 

The research is built upon the quantitative analysis of a large number of floor plans collected across different typologies. Such method appeals to the understanding of the existing housing stock through the range of housing interiors, rather than the common types. Recently developed machine learning algorithms make possible a study of this scale. Such study contributes to the understanding of the existing practices both in the new built and converted dwellings and the varieties of spatial dimensions, forms, configurations and their relationships. 

By integrating qualitative approaches to the quantitative study of the floor plans, the research further discusses the design problems that emerge out of these relationships. Altogether, these outcomes contribute to a larger study of the ways standard-making can take different spatial forms and configurations into account, ultimately aiming at challenging the existing practices of standard-making, which are based on an understanding of a universal minimum of space requirements and repetition, with one that recognises and encourages variety.