Resilient Experiences in Appalachian Housing: Architectural Experiments in Planned Housing

The purpose of this presentation is to illustrate research regarding historic experiments in Appalachian social housing to glean lessons for future successful housing models. This research is significant as housing in the region if often viewed through conventional lenses that do not reflect the rich histories of different experiments in Appalachian housing. This presentation will focus on two Depression era housing developments in West Virginia. This presentation and paper will highlight some of these historic endeavors to make the housing of Appalachia’s residents an important topic within studies of the region. This presentation will rely on a mixed methods approach that will utilize observation, analysis of historic documents and potential interviews with current residents. The presentation will rely heavily on a review of the literature around the topic to frame and solicit questions. Expected findings include a disconnect between planning of ideal housing systems and the actual user, problems with technology regarding construction standards, and adaptation of homes over time to reflect changing demographics within the region. This will highlight both successes and failures of these centrally planned housing systems. This work will inform future planners and policymakers in the region by providing a template to aid in the planning of the next iteration of housing infrastructure in the region.