New Housemates: A Domestic Reponse to Climate Change

New Housemates is a speculative proposal to adapt the suburban ranch house in response to the environmental crisis. Global warming is forcing plant species to migrate in search of tolerable climates faster than physically possible. Additionally, these migration paths are blocked by suburban developments, ultimately endangering numerous plant species each year. For this reason, this project proposes manipulating and adapting the ranch house into a structure that supports plant and human life. As plant species struggle to keep up with the rising temperatures, they are brought inside the home and cared for by the humans.

Due to the standardization of architectural elements, variously sized ranch houses can undergo this proposed transformation. First, the roof is covered in vegetation and kinked to direct stormwater into the backyard forming a wetland area. The interior is reorganized around the logic of an extended “plumbing wall.” The run-off water from the sinks, dishwasher, and so forth are used to irrgiate the plants living inside, therefore forcing the human occupants to be highly conscious of the products, such as soap and toothpaste, they are using. Ultimately, the project encourages cohabitation between plants and humans.