The journey of adaptation for the Mexican

culture into the United States is a difficult but

dynamic one, fraught with uncertainty while

stimulated and energized by promise.

Oftentimes choked by bias or discrimination,

the Mexican and American experience of

“coming together” can be hindered. Groups or

persons can hold others back, strangling out

their adaptation. Unwillingness on one or both

sides can make this adaptive process halt,

fragment, or disintegrate. But openness and

cooperation between both sides can ultimately

lead to an environment of parallelism, where

Americans and Mexicans work and live side by

side, enhanced and enriched by each other’s

diversity. Cultural growth can emerge from

these experiences, creating deeper meaning

behind old traditions as new traditions are

developed. In such cases, these two cultures are

interlaced, complementing each other’s

differences while bound together by their

sameness.

JESSICA CHRISTENSEN

DHA 3605 CULTURALLY SENSITIVE HOUSING FOR MEXICANS AND UNIVERSAL DESIGN, FALL 2008

INSTRUCTOR: DR. HADJIYANNI

CULTURAL

SENSITIVITY

•Space for

entertaining is

provided throughout:

large living room;

dining room with

space for expansion.

•Children’s bedrooms

large enough for two

beds per room.

•Master bedroom has

master bath for

privacy and

convenience.

•Desks in children’s

bedrooms for

studying.

CONCEPTUAL

TRANSLATION

On the first floor, a

central hall

separates the two

cultures. The

Mexican side is

shown through

curved line and a

warm color palette;

the mainstream is

shown through

linear line and a

cool color palette.

On the second floor,

the division of

cultures continues;

however,

integration can be

seen as the cultural

differences begin to

overlap. The two

come together at

the staircase and

begin a tentative

journey of “coming

together”

throughout the rest

of the second floor

UNIVERSAL

DESIGN

•Bedroom, full bath,

and laundry room

provided on the first

floor.

•Walkways 42” wide.

•3’ clearance at bed

sides for accessibility.

•Pedestal sink in first

floor bathroom for

space beneath.FIRST FLOOR SECOND FLOOR

OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 43’ x 28’

TOTAL SQ. FT.: 1,100 SQ. FT.

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

•Multiple work surfaces in the kitchen

encourage interaction with friends and

family members.

•Display shelves in the entry create a

sense of stability and allow for display

of cherished possessions.

•The living room offers space for

entertaining.

•A built-in entertainment center offers

an attractive storage solution.

CONCEPTUAL TRANSLATION

In the kitchen (above right), parallelism is achieved. The cultures

live side-by-side, complementing each other’s differences, while not

interwoven. The island retains the Mexican identity with curved

line and a warm color palette and the cabinets along the wall retain

the mainstream identity with straight lines and a cool color palette.

At the entrance (above left), the two cultures are separate, their

differences apparent. However, integration has begun at the

staircase, where both linear and curvilinear line are present.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN

•Multiple work surface heights in the

kitchen accommodate varying user

needs.

• 42” walkways offer ample clearance for

comfortable passage.

•Single-lever faucet to accommodate all

user types.

•30”X48” clear floor space at appliances

for easy accessibility.

PERSPECTIVE OF FRONT ENTRANCEPERSPECTIVE OF KITCHEN

CONCEPTUAL TRANSLATION

Cultural differences, when interlaced, create a new language, as shown in the stained glass

window (lower left), which combines both identities. Tentative integration creates a new

language, with each culture “borrowing” pieces of identity from the other (lower right),

where color palettes and line type overlap in some cases, but each retains its culture.

CULTURAL SENSITIVITY

•Landscaping offers privacy while allowing for neighbor

interaction (lower left).

•Large backyards offer ample play areas for children or as

a place to entertain.

•A large walk-in closet in the master bedroom allows for

ample storage.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN

•Flush entry at the rear entrance offers accessibility to all

user types.

•Exterior and interior doors are 36” wide for ease of

passage.

SITE PLAN

SECTIONDETAIL PERSPECTIVE

FRONT ELEVATION

LEVER

HANDLE

HARD-

WARE

ROUNDED COUNTER

CORNERS

FRONT LOADING WASHER AND

DRYER

ROLL OUT DRAWERS

LAUNDRY/KITCHEN

CURVED ROOF LINECURVED EXTERIOR WALL

RECOMMENDED SINK

CLEARANCES

UNIVERSAL DESIGN

SOLUTIONS

MODEL