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.
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 artists' studio enclosure. Lectures and discussions will precede each phase of the overall cycle from reclaiming materials to a 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.
Earn college credit through UVM: This course is available for credit through the University of Vermont (CDAE 95, 2 credits). In-state tuition is $912, plus a non-refundable $300 program fee to Yestermorrow. Click here for UVM registration information.
- Competency Level: All Levels
- AIA credits: 42 Eligible for HSW and SD credits
- UVM credits: 2
The Mad River valley is home to a fertile artistic community, This course will be creating a temporary enclosure for an artist’s group, from recycled materials. In this week long course, students will engage in the deconstruction, or recycling of a small structure, and the group design and creation of a temporary artist’s studio in Waitsfield Vermont for Habitat for Artists.
Habitat for artists is a collective project that uses the idea of the artist’s studio as a catalyst for mutual engagement between artists and communities. The “habitats” are small, temporary, 6’ by 6’ studios installed at a variety of locations: some highly visible to the local community; others, more unexpected venues for experiencing art or connecting with the process of artists engaging in creative work. HFA invites artists to work in these small, temporary studios. And while exploring their own creative process, the artists engage in active dialogues with a new audience from that location. The public, meanwhile, is invited into a new interaction and discussion about art, the artists role, as well as topics which are pertinent or relevant to that local community.
The studios are made from predominantly recycled or reclaimed material and are reused for each new iteration of the project. During short-term residencies, artists work within certain guidelines setup by HFA, either to consider types of materials used or to connect to a certain site in a new context. These intimate work spaces not only ask artists working in them to explore their creative needs, BUT also act as a metaphor for our OWN domestic needs. How might we be more creative about our consumption of materials, our use of energy and land? Could we be doing more with less, yet still create a vibrant, relevant society and culture? They are asked to consider the questions: How Much? How Little? The Space to Create. (Source: http://www.habitatforartists.org/wp/)
Project specifics: The deconstruction and materials harvesting phase of the 2011 course will be via participation in the disassembly of a nearby shed. The class will assist in this process and salvage a selected portion of these materials for the build phase of the course.
Topics addressed in this course include:
Materials harvest and re-use; Group design and construction; Design/build; Installation art and temporary structures; Programming and design for human use; Human interaction with space; Site topics; Materials exploration
Schedule
Sunday Evening
- Introduction
- Lecture(s) and present goals, opportunities and constraints of the project and charrette by students to develop preliminary concepts.
- Brad Materials reuse Deconstruction and Self Introduction
- Dee Self Introduction and mobile/modular architecture and installation art talk
Day One – Monday
- MATERIALS SALVAGE AND ASSESSMENT
- Day - Orientation to salvaging
- Materials Issues; Dos and Don’ts of Salvaging
- On site tools orientation
- Materials salvaging beg
- Possible visit with Habitat for Artists
- Night – Design Charrette narrowing down initial schemes
Day Two – Tuesday
- JOINERY AND CONNECTION-MATERIAL ASSESSMENT
- Day - Materials salvaging project and/or possible trip(s) to ReSOURCE in Burlington or other salvage and/or lumber yards.
- Night –individual connection, component, assembly explorations in shop. Explore details in shop continue to define and develop group design.
Day Three – Wednesday
- DE_MOUNTABILITY/RE_MOUNTABILITY
- 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.
- Lunch: Discussion, materials Demountability/remountability
- Late Afternoon – Finalize design and connection and component typology; connection inventory to determine hardware needs.
- Evening: Public Lecture
Day Four – Thursday
- CONSTRUCTION
- Day – Build pre-fabrication in shop and on-site
- Night – Build pre-fabrication in shop
Day Five – Friday
- CONSTRUCTION
- Day – Build pre-fabrication in shop and on-site
- Night – Build pre-fabrication in shop
Day Six – Saturday
- CONSTRUCTION
- Build - finish construction and instructions for change and/or dismantling to be left with Yestermorrow.
- Present project to Habitats for Artists
- Celebration Dinner
Habitat for artist’s website:
http://www.habitatforartists.org/wp/
Suggested Reading
MATERIALS RE-USE AND SUSTAINABILITY
Durning, Alan and Ryan, John C.; STUFF THE SECRET LIVES OF EVERYDAY THINGS
Brower, Michael and Warren, Leon; THE CONSUMER’S GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICES
Braungart, Michael and McDonough, William; CRADLE TO CRADLE: REMAKING THE WAY WE MAKE THINGS
Strasser, Susan; WASTE AND WANT: A SOCIAL HISTORY OF TRASH
Rogers, Heather; gone tomorrow: the hidden life of garbage
Royte, Elizabeth; GARBAGE LAND: THE SECRET TRAIL OF TRASH
Royte, Elizabeth; BOTTLEMANIA: HOW WATER WENT ON SALE AND WHY WE BOUGHT IT
GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES
Ching, Francis; ARCHITECTURAL GRAPHICS
Ching, Francis; ARCHITECTURE: FORM, SPACE & ORDER
Crowe, Norman ; VISUAL NOTES
Block Friedman, Jonathan; CREATIONS IN SPACE
Koolhaas, Rem; DELIRIOUS NEW YORK
Koolhaas, Rem; SM, M, L, XL
Kahn, Louis; BETWEEN SILENCE AND LIGHT
Powell, Helen and D. Leatherbarrow; MASTERPIECES OF ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING
Shepheard, Paul; WHAT IS ARCHITECTURE?
Venturi, Robert with Scott Brown, Denise and Izenour, Steven; LEARNING FROM LAS VEGAS
Holl, Steven; Parallax
RELEVANT AND INTERESTING ARTISTS AND WEBSITES BLOGS:
CHRISTO AND JEANNE-CLAUDE
TIM HAWKINSON
THOMAS HIRSHORN
MICHAEL HEIZER
ANDY GOLDSWORTHY
JESSICA STOCKHOLDER
TARA DONOVAN
DONALD JUDD
LOUISE BOURGEOIS
FRED SANDBACK
SOL LEWITT
EL ANATSUI
http://www.arcosanti.org/
http://www.superuse.org/
http://www.bustler.net/
http://archinect.com/
http://coolboom.net/
http://www.strangeharvest.com
DAILY DOSE OF ARCHITECTURE: http://archidose.blogspot.com/
THE CRUNCHY CHICKEN: http://www.thecrunchychicken.com/
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)
Photo Gallery
Video
Events