How do gay people want to live? That's the question Daniel Ovalle Costal has been asking... by using dolls houses.
Over the past four years, Daniel has examined the lived experiences of queer people in London, using interviews, detailed drawings, and - most excitingly! - the imaginative construction of dollhouses as a research tool.
Historically, the realm of queer studies has overlooked the domestic sphere, but a growing body of work - most notably the 2022 publication Queer Spaces, edited by Joshua Mardell and Adam Nathaniel Furman -signals a significant shift. This ‘domestic turn’ advocates for a deeper understanding how queer people want to live, not forgetting spaces that reflect different family set-ups and living arrangements. Costal's recent findings suggest a disturbing gap between the rigid standards imposed by frameworks like the London Plan’s Housing Design Guide and the dynamic realities of queer life.
As he analyses how LGBTQ+ families navigate their homes, Costal notes that while some flexibility exists within domestic architecture, many queer families encounter limitations that stifle their ability to express their identities authentically. 'These are not just joyful nice-to-haves,' he states, emphasising that such spatial creativity is essential for living one's queerness fully. Instead of merely being refuge, these homes need to serve as a nurturing ground for queer identities.
This urgent need for a rethinking of housing standards comes against a backdrop of a widespread housing crisis in the UK, which has led architects and planners to focus predominantly on increasing the volume of housing units, often at the expense of quality and diversity. Costal’s research argues that such trends inadvertently reinforce conservative ideals of domesticity and family life, neglecting the complexities of modern queer living and relationships. He advocates for a ‘disobedient dollhouse making’ approach—a framework that emphasises the active participation of users in the design process, enabling them to explore imaginative possibilities beyond conventional housing norms.
Additionally, the call for a more inclusive design philosophy has echoes in initiatives from institutions like the London School of Architecture, which launched a think-tank design module aimed at queering housing standards. This project resulted in a manifesto proposing adaptable living spaces, demonstrating a broader movement within the field to push for flexibility and representation in housing design, affirming diverse lifestyles and cultural identities.
Source: Noah Wire Services