Architecture, College of
Masters in Architecture Program: Theses
First Advisor
Zachary Porter
Date of this Version
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Citation
A design thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture
Major: Architecture
Under the supervision of Professor Zachary Porter
Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2025
Abstract
As online social media platforms become dominant areas for self-expression, professional opportunity, and cultural exchange, the role of typical residential architecture in contemporary society is changing to meet the demands of this visually driven and performative culture. Social media’s emphasis on aesthetic appeal, shareability, and curated authenticity challenges traditional architectural paradigms that prioritize functionality, spatial quality, and privacy. This change coincides with the broader Western cultural shift in ideals and social dynamics of the contemporary user. The home space, a once-private refuge, has been redefined in the age of online social media, where physical space is endlessly curated to align with the logic of digital consumption. By engaging with the interplay between physical design and digital representation, this thesis is uniquely positioned to showcase how the contemporary home space can serve as both a lived space and a platform for mediated interaction.
Thesis statement
This thesis explores how modern social media and its creation has the ability to transform the home space and its social dynamics, arguing that contemporary residential design must create homes that serve both physical and mediated functions.
The design exploration serves as an allegory, revealing the home space beyond its traditional limits under the influence of social media.
Advisor: Zachary Porter
Comments
Copyright 2025, Nicholas Carraher. Used by permission