This thesis hopes to reimagine the suburbs and challenge the conventional role of architects and the homogeneity of suburban housing. Currently, architects are nearly excluded from the building of suburban homes altogether, resulting in cookie-cutter houses lacking resilience for evolving demographics. The suburban home, symbolizing consumerism, prioritizes affordability and return on investment over adaptability and community.

Homebuyers must also redefine homeownership, valuing diversity and community over financial investment. Rather than focusing on McMansions and superficial renovations, this thesis advocates for a collective, interconnected approach to suburban design. It explores depictions of the nuclear family, reconfigures single-family homes, and utilizes governing documents, like the homeowner’s agreement, to subvert current systems that underlie the suburbs.

The goal is to envision neighborhoods fostering communal living within existing regulations while experimenting with new housing configurations. By prioritizing adaptability and community over financial gain, this speculative imagination hopes to provide a subtle alternative to the “American Dream.”