Autoethnography of a home: Unpacking storage practices for enhanced wellbeing

Marco-Burguete, Elena

Abstract

The home is a critical element of the city, and to foster healthy, sustainable urban environments, design must begin at the domestic level. This study explores how material possessions shape domestic spaces, emphasising how homes designed with a focus on storage practices can significantly enhance the wellbeing of inhabitants. Through autoethnography, the author examines how her own home was designed around a storage framework that accommodates possessions while promoting a sense of wellbeing.
The research engages household members and frequent visitors in reflective dialogues, positioning the home as an architectural probe. By comparing storage strategies in the author’s home with those in visitors' homes, the study uncovers diverse storage practices and their implications for housing design. The methodology integrates autoethnographic narration, architectural drawings, and detailed documentation of storage practices across rooms, with personal narratives from all inhabitants providing deeper insights into the design process.
Amid growing environmental challenges and social inequities, this multi-method approach demonstrates how homes designed with integrated, visible storage solutions can play a pivotal role in improving wellbeing. The home becomes a retreat—a space to recharge, nurture, and recover—where well-designed storage systems help declutter the environment, fostering a calm and restorative atmosphere. This study highlights how such practices contribute to healthier, more sustainable homes and promote the creation of inclusive, equitable urban environments.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: European Urban Research Annual Conference (EUREA)
• Start Date: Jun 10, 2025
• End Date: Jun 13, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Dec 17, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 28, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 1, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/14602258