>04.11.08 Former

The above image diagrams the process of slicing and sectioning the concrete form to create our 30 concrete formwork layers. I have begun the file work for the last of the conrete forms. The end is near, I cannot wait to fabricate these letters!

>02.27.2008 Letter Head + Donations

Thanks to the graphic savy of Sara our group was able to utilize a pamplhet to make initial conatacts to cemex, cemex deliverables, home depot and lowes. Following the initial contact I created a letter head for our group and wrote letters describing our project and our donation needs. From this we aquired 200$ from Home Depot. Cemex is will bring concrete to our site from left over pours and Cemex has requested permission from the head quarters in Spartanburg to donate or discount our custom mix used for our signage block. Also Lowe's is currently going through its process to donate to the site.

>02.21.2008 Concrete Cast

The concrete cast was a particularly successful series of days due to the class overlap in the process. The girls (SAB JF) designed and thought out the form. I was in charge of the mold fabrication and file set up for the CNC router. It was interesting working with the designers to realize their ideas. Blaine stepped in to optimize the internal structure and helped setup the exterior frame. At the end of the day everyone helped pour and prep the mold. All in all it was a very successful day for Stewardship South.

>02.10.2008 Reflection on Pendleton Site Cleanup

The united way clean up on Saturday Febuary 09, 2008 at the Pendleton site brought together a few members of the Pendleton team and prominent members of pendleton's leadership and service core. Not only was it refreshing to engage in some physical change on the site ( I removed overgrown grass to reveal a nice brick patio around the Ron box) it was also nice to engage with members of the Pendleton community. After some discussion with the mayor, I now have a better understanding of how to make the community "own' the site, ie love for it and care for it. It will take a few presentations, but the end result could mean power for lighting the site and a proper maintenece crew. Things are lookin up.

>02.10.2008 Progress, Process

The porch has always been thought of as spilling forth into the landscape, and combination of memorializing the old porch and inserting its purpose back through the landscap. Easier said then done. The top image shows an idealized sketch of our site plan. The concept centers around extending certain lines throgh the site, connecting it and uniting it. After the finalzing of the site, I designed a series of cascading stairs which move from the front porch and blead into the landscape, following the lines of the site. The current (and perhaps close to final) iteration utilizins and egg crated deck which also incorportates seating, circulation, and site lines into is surface. The three foot module continues throughout the landscape.

>01.27.2008 Rural Studio: Subrosa

Visiting Subrosa located in Newbern, Alabama, is a somewhat somber experience. The concrete cast in place space is at once cold and also warm-the flow of sound and whimsical sculptures seem to counteract experiences of the visitor. Crafted by Samuel Mockbee's Daughter, Subrosa becomes monument and memorial to the great Rural Studio master mind.

As the video montage describes, the visitor enters the space off access after a small decent. The hall way is then exploded into a bowl like space framed with star responsive steel circles and rods. In the center of the room is a water well that reflects and softens the hard nature of the space. Details play an important role in Subrosa-the steel work has meanings and solidify Samuel's signature.

Subrosa, meaning below the rose, connotes secrets and mystery. Much like the name the space contains secrets as well. The whispering bench is a mystical feature the bends sound from listener to another through an unknown pipe matrix. The simplicity of the scheme adds to its poetry, a fitting memorial to a man who sought diligently an "architecture of decency."

>01.18.2008 Meaning/Impact/Difficulty

"Design is art that people use"- I stumbled on this quote in an architecture book store, and as simple as it seems it is very profound. For me, the act of inserting artful use into a community that has been historically abandoned is very fulfilling. This notion of a porch which embraces the community and livens the community is at the heart of my goals for this design build. Whether the existing wood on the site is treated like gold or becomes a non issue, I believe that the power of this site begins with inserting artful use into this more graphic expression of memory. Community can emerge from our efforts.

Once this community can regain this site, I believe our impact will be realized. The impact being our ability to inspire a place which currently lacks a certain identity. I envision the Pendleton site to be the armature for rehabilitating a site and community which at one time possessed a unique identity. As lofty as this desire may be, it can be achieved as long as the lines of communication are kept open and the people in the are believe our team and our efforts. Public relations seems to contain a certain urgency in this process.

The inherent meaning and lofty impact goals will be the most difficult thing to wrestle with during this process. How does the history remain evident? How does the community use the space? What do we keep and what do we rethink on the site? Working within these constraints can produce a powerful solution or it can cripple our team- as designers we will assault the former and hopefully overcome these challenges.