MITHaus Design / Ethnographic Research - MIT Research Lab

MITHaus is a research lab in the Mechanical Engineering School of MIT. Today, there are approx 1.7 B people that suffer from shelter insecurity, while we also suffer from plastic pollution as a global society. MITHaus poses the question - Can we, and should we, build homes with recycled 3d printed plastic to provide a dignified home for people in need? As a researcher on the team, I conducted the first in-field ethnographic research with potential users for the project. The main question driving my research was - What type of home should be built and is the ideal solution viable with large-scale recycled plastic 3d printing technology?

My research was based in Costa Rica - a small but interesting option as a location for MITHaus given its affinity and understanding of sustainability as well as its high poverty levels. The study serves as a basis for product and architectural design and also as a reference for future ethnographic research in other potential MITHaus locations. To understand how Costa Rican families are living in informal communities four locations for interviews were selected - 2 in the central valley and 2 in rural areas close to the coast. These were chosen based on firsthand experience, recommendations from local NGO representatives, and secondary ethnographic research reports of local informal settlements.

Informal Community Residents and their Needs

I interviewed approx. 30 community residents as well as representatives from relevant NGOs. Resident interviews were conducted in person in people’s homes, this allowed for observational research as well. Interview questions prompted heads of household to talk about their life story and how their family and home has changed in the past few years or decades. Observational research centered on home conditions and distribution. The data gathered was synthesized through needs-based analysis and affinity diagrams. The result was 10 main needs that MITHaus should address with its home solution for it to be successful at creating positive social impact

Design Direction Recommendations for CR

Based on the research done and in reference to the user needs previously stated a few design direction recommendations can be made for this region of LATAM. Ideation following these recommendations will provide a solid base for user testing, later on, to further understand what the ideal home design is.

Below you will find additional info on each community included in the research. As part of the data synthesist and research record to support future design processes I developed floorplans for each home that was part of the study. The goal of these is a general understanding of the size, distribution, and condition/function of each home.

La Carpio

Floorplan Examples

Los Anonos

Floor plan Examples

Bamboo 2

Floor plan Examples

El Tecal

Floorplan Examples