Family Homemaking Tactics in Tyneside Flats: Contemporary Interpretations of Victorian Domestic Interior

This study addresses the gap between knowledge of adaptable design and the socio-spatial practices within the interior spaces of contemporary domestic settings. The aim is to support the sustainability of residential environments by enhancing the adaptability of dwellings to changing and diverse home life needs. Consequently, this paper delves into design features that enhance the adaptability of interior domestic spaces, informed by everyday family homemaking processes. Through a case study of the Tyneside flat, this paper illustrates challenges of transitioning this flat from Victorian to contemporary family home. Drawing on data gathered using multimodal methods, the findings demonstrate homemaking tactics and adaptable design features enhancing this transformation process. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of contextualising adaptable design to accommodate ongoing socio-spatial negotiations occurring within the interior space of the home. It posits adaptability as crucial for supporting the quality of home experience, emphasising its ethical significance in architectural practice and decision-making processes.