The author presents a large comparative database derived from ethnographic and architectural research in Southeast Asia, Egypt, Mesoamerica, and other areas; proposes new methodologies for comparative analyses of houses; and critically examines existing methodologies, theories, and data. His work expands on and systematizes comparative and cross-cultural approaches to the study of households and their environments to provide a firm foundation for this emerging line of study.
Residential relocation is the household decision that generates housing consumption changes. It is not merely a decision about changing locations; it is also a decision about tenureâabout whether to own or to rent. Research into housing markets has been largely focused on the process of changing from renting to owning, as most countries in the Western world have moved from predominantly rental societies to societies of homeowners. Households and Housing is designed to demonstrate the interconnections between the housing stock and households. The focus is on understanding the demand for housing and the way in which the demand is fulfilled as households select housing. This book is concerned with both the decision to move one's residence and the resulting type of housing choice. The housing supplyâthe stock of dwellingsâis the context within which households make choices and acquire housing. The authors use the concepts of life course, housing career, and housing hierarchy to trace the movement of households through the housing market. They paint a comprehensive picture of housing consumption by age, income, and tenure choice, illustrated with nearly 150 figures and tables. US housing market data are contrasted with data from the Netherlands to document the differential effects of government intervention. This is the most up-to-date analysis available on the dynamics of housing choices and housing markets.
Author Richard E. Blanton proposes new methods for comparative analyses of houses and uses these methods, along with the community ethnographic data, to develop new and evaluate current household theories
Looking at dwellings around the world, this lift-the-flap book explores what homes can look like, what they’re made of, and who lives there. It includes Bedouin tents, Dutch barges, African mud houses, Moroccan houses with tiled courtyards, glass houses, and more. There is a Thai river house and a brick apartment building to cut out and assemble.