Mass customization oriented computational housing design system proposal in multi-storeys

Mass production, which is the dominant manufacturing intellection since 1900's, has not caused not only the production way of things; but also caused economic, social and political changes. The countries and producers started to gain strength by producing and marketing standard products produced towards the understanding of mass production. In terms of social scope, with the rising number of products, the manner of consumption has changed. The products lost their meanings for the customers and the demand for consumption increased. Unlikely to special production, the producers started to have a power about what consumers can buy. For this reason, the relationship between the subjects and objects was transformed. People have a tendency to express themselves what they own. However, with this new understanding of production, they can only identify themselves objects which are offered as standard on the market. Consequently, that making the people homogeneous becomes inevitable. The field of architecture was also started to be part of variation and transformation period with the new way of production because it could not be thought apart from economic, social and political context. The products of architecture were handled as more standard and rational. Additionally, the elements of architectural products were standardized and accelerated in terms of manufacturing. With the maximum speed and low-cost understanding, the products of the architecture became same and consumption object. In the end, the products of architecture lost their meanings for users. One of the architectural products which people mainly spend a big part of the lifetime in it, housing, is also inevitably influenced by the changes mentioned above. The individuals involved in the production process before the mass production began to be pushed out of the process. For this reason, they are forced to live in standard houses produced with profit. In such an environment, people cannot express themselves with their most personal space, instead, they try to make superficial adaptations by minimal changes or additions to the standard living units. Over time, user demands have come to the forefront and it causes transformation in the manufacturing attitude. The customizable products, which allow to individuals be a part of design or production process at different levels, are become more important. Producers are also realized that they could have more profit than before with this kind of understanding. This user-centered new concept is named as 'Mass Customization'. Shortly, while mass customization takes into account the positive sides of mass production like producing in little time with low cost for mass; differently, it covers individuals' involvement of the production process in varying degrees. It is also used in different industries with the help of developing technology. This new emerging concept of manufacturing has also led to economic, social and political variations. With the user involvement, that the reaching to the power in terms of economically and politically was facilitated and also suppliers earned more money. In terms of socially, likely to special production, individuals again have a chance to customize their objects according to their needs and demands; also they find an opportunity to express themselves as they wish. As a result of this, the user satisfaction is launched to increase. Once more, because the discipline of architecture could not be thought independent from the contextual changes in time, it has also affected. Solely, these changes are limited in terms of end products of the discipline. Generally, the elements, which are the part of construction or prefabricated, are open to customizing. Because of this reason, the end products of the architecture has small changes in a spatial manner. In this frame, when housing typology is analyzed, that is the meaningful architectural product - space for their users, the mass customization concept is successfully applied in private or prefabricated ones. In another kind of houses, the customization possibility seems so limited. On the other hand, in today's world, most of the people live in cities in multi-storey housing blocks. The people living in them have little chance to customize their houses. If there is an opportunity for it, generally it is about the finishing or equipment level, not spatial. In the center of this thesis study, the multi-storey housing blocks mentioned above is placed. For the individuals spend their lifetime mostly in and have little opportunities to form their living spaces – houses, the mass customization concept is thought as a tool for individuals to customize houses in multi-layered housing blocks. If it can be used in private or prefabricated houses, why it cannot be useful in the housing blocks in cities. For this reason, in this study, mass customization oriented computational design system is prepared for housing units in multi-layered blocks which are open to specialization by users-individuals. As a proposed system, firstly, the system -which allows individuals to customize their houses in design stage specific to multi-storey buildings- is designed. Then, the interfaces are prepared for the user to transfer their demands or needs to the design system. This transferring process is thought to be realized with only specialist architects. The system enables from shaping the volume of housing units to the choosing of finishing materials. In other words, it involves customization in different degrees, from the spatial features of the housing units to the finishing levels of a building process. This flexible system is limited with the defined solution space; if not, it turns into special production and it conflicts with the concept of mass customization. Briefly, the working mechanism of the model includes these steps: getting prefers done by user of the house on designed interfaces with the help of architect, production of schemes by system according to defined demands, critical analysis, transferring the chosen scheme to the project, making customization at equipment and finishing level and presenting the house to the customer in different medias. In time, this proposed system in the thesis study may be developed; may help emerging of different flexible housing designs and maybe a guide for architects for high quality and not standard housing projects.