Research

Notebook Entries

Discovering the Problem

Brainstorming I
Bathroom

Brainstorming VIII
Dog Ladder

Brainstorming VI
Exterior Doors

Brainstorming V
Guest Bed Living 

Brainstorming IV
Kitchen Table

Brainstorming VII
House Features

Brainstorming III
Stairs/Ladders

Brainstorming IX
Storage Unit

Summary of Research

Cities cause poor development in certain areas of the brain which can lead to mental health problems. A study was conducted by a team of scientists led by Dr. Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg discovered that the brain of a city-raised person develops in a different way than that of a person who was raised in a more rural setting. After conducting a stress test on subjects from various locations of the nation to see how their brains react to stressful scenarios and the results were shocking. The scientists found that the brains of residents from cities reacted towards stress in a more aggressive way than those brains from rural areas. This phenomenon is caused by a poor connection between the amygdalas and the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC). The amygdalas is involved in accessing threats and generating fear, while the pACC in turn helps to regulate the amygdalas. The amygdalas was discovered to be most active in the city subjects while the pACC was the least active in the city subjects. However, subjects from the countryside show the opposite brain action which is a more friendly approach to situations and a healthier brain. Also, stress induced by the cities cause an array of serious medical issues, such as heart disease, asthma, obesity, diabetes, headaches, depression/anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, and Alzheimer's Disease and even can result in accelerated aging, and premature death.
A good way to reduce stress is to take relaxing trips to peaceful locations, such as the Great Lakes. A houseboat vacation home is the best remedy to find peace. The houseboat should be very long but not very wide. Also, the houseboat should use only marine grade exterior doors, walls, and window sealant. The marine grade door and wall material makes the houseboat water proof, such as plywood, fiberglass, and simulated wood. The window sealant does not allow any water to seep past the window framework. In addition, the houseboat is very narrow and small so the house portion fits a lot of rooms in a tiny space. Combining rooms and making furniture have double purpose saves space in the house design, such as a combined kitchen and living room, pull out beds, and sharing a shower rather than having two. The client has at least two people and a dog on the houseboat at all times so accommodations for sleeping space for more than two people must be made. Also, a nature theme, as requested by the client, must be followed. The house design will be added to Fletcher Kirol’s base. The houseboat will be situated in Lake Ontario and free to move about the Great Lakes via the rivers connecting. The houseboat alleviates the client’s stress and lowers the risk of any mental or physical medical issue caused from living in the city.









Works Cited
The Biology of Stress (Mental Health Guru). (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2015. (2:57)
What Stress Does to Your Body (Mental Health Guru). (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2015. (3:13)
City stress. (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2015. (3:03)
Dr. Gabor Maté: How stress can cause disease. (n.d.). Retrieved August (53:17)
Stress and Heart Attacks – Causes of Heart Diseases. (n.d.). Retrieved August 5, 2015. (2:47)
Building our house boat. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (10:00)
A tiny houseboat/micro-shantyboat "The Sea Snail" (floating cabin/shelter). (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (6:35)
Lego-style apartment transforms into infinite spaces. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (9:38)
P2P Brooklyn: From apartment to shared flat, restaurant/club. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (20:09)
Wall Framing System. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (1:35)
Tour of the Tiny Houseboat, A Documentary. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (8:35)
49' Crossover Houseboat: An Evolution in Yachting. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (3:33)
Pier Pressure Lake Powell Houseboat Video Tour. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (10:41)
Extreme weather house boat floats in Silicon Valley backyard. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (24:36)
Three Level Houseboat | Epic. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (3:00)
Platinum Indulgence Houseboat build - All Seasons Houseboats Mildura. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (6:18)
2008 Sharpe 16 x 75WB Liveaboard Vol Navy Houseboat For Sale on the Tennessee River. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (8:15)
Introducing the WaterLoft from Sundance Yachts. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2015. (3:52)
Houseboat Living in New York City - HGTV. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (3:47)
Liveaboard life: Minimalism in a tiny home at sea. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015. (9:42)
Houzz. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015.
Sick cities: Why urban living can be bad for your mental health. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015.
Luxury Houseboats | Custom Houseboats | Houseboat Manufacturers - Sumerset Houseboats. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015.
Room & Board. (n.d.). Retrieved September 5, 2015.
Interior wall materials for houseboats. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015.
The 3 Types of Exterior Door Materials - West Shore Window & Door. (2012, December 5). Retrieved August 10, 2015.
How to Frame a Houseboat on a Floating Base | DoItYourself.com. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015.
All about Houseboats has daily Tips, Guides, Articles for House Boats. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015.
10 Health Problems Related to Stress That can be Fixed. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015.

Research Related to User Understanding and Involvement

• User/customer interviews

o Questioned client about what she desire in her houseboat layout

• Stakeholder analysis

o Spoke with client for a basis idea of my design and then expanded design from there

o Spoke with partner Fletcher Kirol before designing to learn the limitations of my design so that I could expand my ideas from that point

• Stakeholder selection & planning matrix

o Spoke with client prior to beginning to design the house

o Spoke with partner Fletcher Kirol prior to beginning to design house

Research Cards PowerPoint

https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B9Cd1Byajtv1UDhfRUpCZmxKVkE/view?usp=sharing