The students of Studio Stewardship are about to embark upon a journey which I am very excited about: actually bringing two projects that we have designed to fruition.
Although I am looking forward to seeing a design that I have had a hand in actually become a physical manifestation beyond a small-scale model, I honestly believe that the most meaningful aspect of both projects will be directly observing their immediate impact upon their surroundings (including landscape, flora, fauna, and people of the respective communities). I feel this way because as a student of architecture, I feel that one missing link in my education thus far has been my being distanced from the actual repercussions that a design I have created would have. It has been easy up until now to neglect this impact and just assume that a design I created would have an optimal impact on the site and its inhabitants. It is also going to be a crucial part of my education into making things actually work within a site; I have had several projects which I presented theoretical proposals for ideas like energy harvesting and community involvement but I never got to see if my ideas would really work in the "real world". I think that this studio is going to change that by allowing us to see the fruits (and thorns) created by our labors.
Although I have no idea what these repercussions will be, I am thinking positively and believe that we will have an overall positive impact on each community. However, I anticipate this being a difficult process, where the initial designs and construction processes that we propose will have to be significantly modified to meet unexpected community needs and demands. Therefore, there will probably be times when we may actually cause an obstruction or eyesore in each community and have some negative reactions, but I believe that in the end we will have created architectures that have a positive impact. This will be, after all, a learning experience for not only us but also for each community. I hope that we will have a lot of community involvement (especially for our social gatherings like the proposed barbeque), but I really feel like there will be less than we would like. The Pendleton site has already been tapped for information and suggestions, but I am not sure if that will make conversation with that community easier or more difficult. Although the Clemson site is located in an area inhabited by a mix of children, students, and residents, I imagine that it will still be difficult getting people outside the architecture department excited about participating in what we design: particularly in the beginning.
This will be a difficult process. I have no doubt about this. We are a studio full of designers that all have strong ideas about the project that we all want incorporated into the final designs. Many of us (particularly the undergraduates) also have very little experience in making full-scale, functioning projects. However, I feel that the most difficult aspect of these two projects will inevitably be actually finishing them in the allotted time. Many of us are graduating in May and I doubt that anyone will be willing to stay very long after graduation to finish either of these structures. The Pendleton site has already experienced this problem, and I feel that it will be our task to not only complete what they started, but also whatever WE start.
Buona fortuna, studio: this promises to be a wild ride!
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