Redefinitions of dwelling and the transnational production of temporary housing in Asian cities

Abstract

The article investigates the history of the Asian serviced-apartment industry in order to shed light on the shifting relationship between dwelling, housing, domesticity and architecture in contemporary Asian cities. It studies the architects, developers and itinerant professionals who have propelled the circulation of residential models and architectural ideas across borders and between cities. In so doing, the article investigates how designers have engaged with the growing demand for short-term housing among Asia's geographically mobile middle class. At the same time, by tracing the cross-border movement of design and management expertise related to serviced apartments, the article demonstrates how key Asian hubs, such as Singapore, operate as model cities that influence ideas about urban development throughout Asia. Drawing upon fieldwork conducted in Bangkok, the article concludes by studying how these models are subsequently modified by local regulatory norms, spatial practices, and urban design traditions.