Architecture/Housing Demand

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Expert: - 12/27/2009


Question
How do we calculate housing demand based on given population and given average household size along with number of occupied dwelling units?

Answer
John, this is much more a demographic question than one concerning architecture.  I will offer you a simplistic answer based on demography courses taken nearly a half-century ago.  I suggest that you cannot project demand without a fourth component for the locale and time period that you are studying.  You will need a projected population growth (positive or negative) over exactly the same time period as the period, at the end of which, you want to project housing demand.  

If you wish to add further accuracy, if the statistics are available, you can factor-in projected (changes in (a) life expectancy, (b) household size and (c) the rate that the capacity of existing housing stock is projected to expand or contract due to conversions, population shifts, municipal activity like zoning or "takings" or losses from natural causes.

Good luck!

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Cary Simmons

Expertise

I can address light construction questions--how things should be assembled, why they come apart and how changes in construction practices, technology and deferred maintenance should be factored into any consideration of the proper fix. I cannot answer complex construction queries that require specific site knowledge and would elect to avoid those that smack of a litigation history.

Experience

I have been in private practice in New England for more than 30 years, during which time, as a hobby, I have personally owned and restored for either personal or adaptive reuse, five pre-1775 homes, of which my wife and I still own and maintain three.

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social and recreational only

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have not yet felt the need to be published

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B. Arch, Cornell 1967 advanced studies, Harvard GSD, 1971-72 and 1976-77

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numerous historic preservation awards in Massachusetts, although historic preservation is not our core practice

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they are several, loyal and of long-standing, and would prefer to remain private

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