ABSTRACT
Homes can be designed and marketed to provide buyers with choice as to the amount of space purchased and the contents of their home. This choice will enable families with modest means to have a better fit between their dwelling, household composition, lifestyle and resources. In addition, rather than buying a fully finished unit, their home’s flexible design should enable them to house themselves progressively as means become available. The Next Home, designed based on these strategies, was constructed at McGill University as a demonstration and later adopted by private sector builders. This essay explains the rationale for such an approach, the design principles and the application of the concept in the marketplace.
