Seclusion and surveillance within the home: the role of privacy in housing design

ABSTRACT

We focus on seclusion and surveillance within the home and discuss the role of privacy in housing design. We provide a framework for housing educators, designers, and architects who work with users advocating for zones of privacy within the home, including the kitchen, as a type of panoptical space, being the logical site of control of surveillance systems. Our literature review focuses on theories of privacy and how the history of kitchen development intersects with seclusion and surveillance within the home. Our implications are that mobile and personal means of home environmental controls and social media present new challenges to the preservation of private lives and deserve continued focus from all stakeholders.

KEYWORDS:

• Home
• surveillance
• kitchen

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gregory Galford

Gregory Galford, Ph.D., AIA, is an architect and an assistant professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. Dr. Galford’s research is focused on issues of housing with a focus on the way that architecture controls behavior.

Gina Peek

Gina Peek, Ph.D., is Interim Associate Dean of Extension, Engagement, and Continuing Education. Dr. Peek has experience educating target audiences how to reduce exposure to environmental contaminants in the home, acquire and maintain affordable housing, maximize satisfaction given housing, and manage household demands on natural resources.