Choosing the Tent Life
Every year, 1200 Duke students choose to
live in a tent village for up to 8 weeks from mid January until the first week
in March. They occupy a grass area in a central area of campus and form a
community that is hard to understand unless you are part of it. What began as
the walk up line for the biggest home basketball game of each year, turned into
a tradition that most think is vital to partake in, even if they aren’t the
biggest basketball fans. This community, named Krzyzewskiville, is home to a
diverse university population and is made up of around 100 ‘tents.’ The use of
a basic tent for protection at night has turned into and unique display of common
architecture. Not only do tents have
solid floors and multiple rain barriers, some have furniture and separate
rooms. Its not just the idea of living in a tent that draws people to participate
year after year, but rather the community and being a part of something bigger
then yourself.
Taking part within a larger, well-planned university,
Krzyzewskiville becomes the most popular place on campus for the 2 months of
the year when is active, even if you don’t want to sleep in a tent. This is a very specific and transient example
but still shows that having ownership and being part of a community can provide
positive benefits and maybe even make up for a little discomfort. How can this
idea influence design of larger spaces and cities? Within the planed environment
is there ways to allow for space of spontaneity where everybody can take part
in its growth?
Okay this definitely wasn't what I was expecting when I saw your title. I think this is a really interesting event/tradition that occurs at Duke. I'm curious though why it started? (I'm afraid it's sports related) And did you ever attend? / What are you personal thoughts on the experience if you did?
ReplyDelete"What began as the walk up line for the biggest home basketball game of each year"
DeleteSomething tells me it might be sports related...
I’d be interested to hear some of Julian’s stories of living in Krzyzewskiville while he was a student at Duke as well.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, perhaps Julian Owens can share some stories in class today.
DeleteOn another note back in the day before Clemson football went digital I had to camp out for tickets and it was as much a blast as it was a burden. You haven’t lived unless you’ve done copious amounts of school work in a leaky tent for 2 weeks straight.
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool! I have lots of questions though--even though the tents are up for two months, how long are people actually occupying them? I'm thinking they have to go home and shower/charge electronics? Maybe not? Do they eat in the tents?
ReplyDeleteI experienced a similar tent situation at the University of Kentucky but it was only for a long weekend, not for a 8 week period. I'm fascinated that the University let the tents be up that long, that is half of our semester! I'm curious about how long tents can stay up before the Krzyzewskivillians feel like that the space they are setting up feels like a place they belong, and how the community interacts at night instead of the daytime. Could you elaborate on that anymore, please?
ReplyDeleteI think this ties into Mike's post about these communities developing organically in space wherever they can find. However, the mindset is obviously completely different. These students have a comfortable life to return to once the 2 months are over, whereas people living in slums only have the slums. But the sense of community is still there- it's not where you are but who you're with right?
ReplyDeleteThis happened at Texas A&M too during football season and it felt like a rite of passage! We talked a lot about vertical slums in class and the community that is created there. I feel like the community created and desired by people in both situations does not happen spontaneously in just any space or neighborhood, but how can we tell and design for what creates an atmosphere for that to grow in?
ReplyDeleteA&M has a football team???
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think this is cool because I enjoy camping, there are several examples of communities that actually live like this and those people are judged for it - There is a bit of a disconnect in this sense. What makes this acceptable but not the "gypsy", "hippie", or "homeless" communities that actually live this way?
ReplyDeleteI think this example is interesting because its looking at the tent-life not from an economic standpoint where someone has not other choice. Taking out this factor we get to evaluate the bizarre aspects of these living situations.
ReplyDelete