Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1982.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH.Includes bibliographical references.The importance of contextually sensitive design is once again becoming recognized by the architectural profession. A contextual design is based upon an understanding of historical and social factors as well as the physical context of the project. This thesis is an exploration of the relationship between an existing environment and the design for a contemporary building. The design will be set on Boston's Beacon Hill, an architecturally rich area that has been designated as a National Historical Landmark by the National Parks Service. The site itself is a relatively large parcel of land located on the Hill's North Slope, an area of somewhat dilapidated houses, now undergoing considerable rehabilitation. The program chosen, that of a residential community for the area's older residents, will take advantage of the site's relatively large size to develop collective facilities as well as approximately 70-80 apartments. While the overall size and collective nature of this project distinguish it from the prevailing pattern of house size and organization on Beacon Hill, they serve to emphasize the need for traditional patterns to be modified and adapted to serve contemporary needs and lifestyles. The design exploration will be preceded by an examination of the historical, social, and physical features of Beacon Hill. Ways in which these aspects of the environment have been used to create contextually successful buildings will be briefly explored. Then the programmatic principles of congregate living environments for older people will be considered. Contextual decisions will be traced from site planning to building organization, focusing on the development of a formal vocabulary for the building exterior. The goal will be to create a new building, modern in execution, but compatible with the traditional forms of Beacon Hill.by Donna L. Harris.M.Arch
