Example housing dissertation topic 5:

The bungalow: A suburban love affair?

Nowhere else in Europe has the bungalow been so embraced as it has been within England. Noting first its widespread erection in the inter-war years, this dissertation charts the changing fortunes of the bungalow within the housing market of England. Suggesting that its enduring popularity is as a consequence of both its versatility and the tendency for them to be built upon sites with above-average sized gardens, this dissertation further questions the extent to which they are most suited largely to elderly residents. Using street-based interviews within Kent, this dissertation compiles the views of newly married couples in Dartford as to the positives of living in a bungalow and makes a strong case for their inclusion in more building developments.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Lewis, A., Torrington, J., Barnes, S., Darton, R., Holder, J., McKee, K., Netten, A. and Orrell, A. (2010). ‘EVOLVE: A tool for evaluating the design of older people’s housing’. Housing, Care and Support, vol. 13(3), pp. 36-41.
• Parry, M. and Baker, S. (1984). ‘Purpose-built retirement housing for sale’. Journal of Consumer Studies & Home Economics, vol. 8(3), pp. 229-241.
• Yohanis, Y.G., Mondol, J.D., Wright, A. and Norton, B. (2008). ‘Real-life energy use in the UK: How occupancy and dwelling characteristics affect domestic electricity use’. Energy and Buildings, vol. 40(6), pp. 1053-1059.