This course will take students through the processes of harvesting building materials from existing structures, design to incorporate these materials into new constructions that are adaptable and deconstructable, and finally building one or more small scale structures using reclaimed materials. Outcomes include knowledge of safe and best practice for salvaging materials for reuse, learning about and developing solutions to the challenges of integrating reclaimed components into the design of small scale structures, and understanding and hands-on practice of principles of design for adaptability and deconstruction. Learning to salvage materials and designing with reclaimed materials in ways that allow building and materials reuse is the basis for a practice of lifecycle design. The course will include lectures, discussions, design, and hands-on deconstruction and construction.

Project specifics:  The deconstruction and materials harvesting phase of the 2010 course will be via participation in the disassembly of a nearby historic 19th century barn in Fayston, VT. The class will assist in this process and salvage a selected portion of these historic materials for the build phase of the course. After the course, the barn will ultimately be moved and rebuilt by community members as a community center for public use.  A future Yestermorrow design / build course will potentially participate in the creation of an adjacent outdoor classroom space.

Earn college credit through UVM:  This course is available for credit through the University of Vermont (CDAE 95, 2 credits).  In-state tuition is $828, plus a non-refundable $300 program fee to Yestermorrow. Click here for UVM registration information.

  • Competency Level: All Levels
  • AIA credits: 42
  • UVM credits: 2

Tools/ Supplies to bring:

  • Strongly suggested: Clothes and dress for Vermont's changeable weather
  • Boots (work, hiking, etc.)
  • Work gloves
  • Notepad and pen
  • Flashlight
  • Camera
  • Enthusiasm
  • Questions

Optional: Tool Belt and hand tools including:

  • Tape measure
  • Hammer
  • Pry Bar
  • Cat's Paw
  • Screwdriver (5 in 1)

Class Schedule

This course will be roughly divided between salvaging building materials, processing and remanufacturing them based upon fitness for use, and then design and build of a small exterior shade structure for use at Yestermorrow. Lectures and discussions will precede each phase of the overall cycle from reclaiming materials to final construction of a small-scale project. There will be several key parameters such as maximum use of reclaimed materials, and flexibility of use and design for deconstruction of the project.

Course Outline

Sunday Evening
Lecture(s) and present goals, opportunities and constraints of the project and charrette by each student to develop individual preliminary concepts.

Day One - Monday
Day - Orientation to salvaging and then materials salvaging project - from sources TBD.

Night - Lecture(s) and group design charrette narrowing down concepts around single overall design.

Day Two - Tuesday
Day - Materials salvaging project and/or possible trip(s) to ReSOURCE in Burlington or other salvage and/or lumber yards.

Night -Lecture(s) and individual connection, component, assembly explorations in shop.

Day Three - Wednesday
Day - Materials salvaging project and/or possible trip(s) to ReSOURCE in Burlington or other salvage and/or lumber yards. Load materials to Yestermorrow campus.

Night - Finalize design and connection and component typology; connection inventory to determine hardware needs.

Day Four - Thursday
Day - Build pre-fabrication in shop and on-site

Night - Build pre-fabrication in shop

Day Five - Friday
Day - Build pre-fabrication in shop and on-site

Night - Build pre-fabrication in shop

Day Six - Saturday
Build - finish construction and instructions for change and/or dismantling to be left with Yestermorrow. Present project to Yestermorrow community TBD.

Project

The Yestermorrow campus is a place of experimentation and change. While the campus as a whole is undergoing a formal re-planning; we have identified an existing space that requires shade. The open space where people congregate in the warm weather for meals and meetings is exposed to overbearing sun in the summer. This problem was seen as being a valuable opportunity to re-use harvested materials. The project may use a standard picnic bench as an armature or foundation upon which the structure is partially or entirely mounted, without impacting the bench. The structure may have other supports but they must sit ‘lightly' upon the ground to be able to adapt and demount the structure for different configurations and complete disassembly to components or assemblies that can be easily handled by one or two people and can be stored within itself or as parts for future reuse. Students will begin by exploring individual ideas and progressively coalesce to working on the single design, within which they will develop connection systems and component parts that will mix pre-fabrication in the shop with the on-site assembly.

Start Date: July 18, 2010
Closed