The Impermanent House: A Psycho-analytical Approach to Improving Glasgow?s Social Housing Schemes

This paper discusses the design philosophies of Richard Neutra as a suggestive approach to improving social housing in Glasgow, Scotland. Starting in the late-19th Century, Glasgow has experienced a range of reformative measures to improve the housing situation, from massive slum clearance and demolition to stock refurbishment and new-build in the social sector. Vast populations were also decanted to peripheral estates, resulting in changes in the city?s demographics, economy and social circumstances. Whilst many of these decisions were made with good intentions, they resulted in unforeseen side effects on the social housing conditions at present in Glasgow. Neutra?s psycho-analytical approach to architecture gives rationale to the rippling effects caused by such changes and brings light to future problem avoidance for decision makers. Inherently, his philosophy determines that the design of the house is a physiological, psycho-social and reactive process where its lifecycle cannot remain static or lack flexibility in order to sustain itself in its environment, equally engaged in change. Examining Neutra?s philosophy in conjunction with a review of a satisfaction and observation study (conducted amongst social housing tenants in Glasgow regarding their present living conditions and habits in the home), indicates a way for the city to re-examine current trends, avoiding past mistakes, and providing better social living conditions for the future.