"Anyone Can Cook" - Auguste Gusteau
From the wise words of Gusteau, "anyone can cook!" from the Disney/Pixar film Ratatouille, I believe the same can be said about building and that "anyone can build"! Gusteau in the film firmly believed that no matter who you were, where you came from, or what your experience level is, anyone can cook; yes, even if you are a rat. This too can be applied to building a structure.
Having been in the Clemson CommunityBUILD studio for three semesters during my college career, I wholeheartedly believe that anyone can build. That is to say, it must be accessible first. We have seen this throughout architectural history and theory with Walter's Way and how he created a step-by-step system for families to design and build their homes. Walter provided them the tools they needed to take agency over their living space and make it what they wanted it to be. During that time it really repositioned what architecture could do to impact those living within it.
I see these same principles being applied even today no matter how old or young you are, anyone can build as long as the right tools are set before them. In Spring 2022, our design-build project was to design an education pavilion for a local Title 1 school in Wadmalaw, South Carolina. These students had never had real access to what architecture was, but through the studio, we presented an opportunity for them to learn about it and be a part of the design process of the overall structure. Many elements brought to us by the students, were considered in the overall design of the pavilion to accommodate how they would be using the outdoor space such as peace poles, playful areas, seating, storage of their school materials, and places to process vegetables from their gardens.
In terms of building, we used Clemson's Sim[PLY] building tools to implement a building workshop with the students. The Sim[PLY] system utilizes interlocking plywood components and zip ties to teach students the importance of structure and how materials come together. This allowed students between ages 8-10 to build a structure with no experience. So, anyone CAN build, but it is up to us as architects to provide the system in which it's done and the guidance the person needs to take agency in their life and build for themselves.
Check out this link to see the students building the Sim[PLY] structure:
I think this is a great point. People often go into the design build studio with never having picked up a tool. Even at the sim[ply] scale this also allow people to get involved in the building process. I believe that as architects we can get people involved in shaping the built environment around them. Just like this and Walter Segal, we can create less intimidating ways for people to get involved. We cant forget about who architecture is for. The more involved they are, the better our lives and architecture will become.
ReplyDeleteIf I can be the devils advocate here, I think to some extent that everyone can build, but should they? Even though I'm referencing a satirical article, "Man Who’s Been In A Bunch Of Buildings Figures He’d Be A Pretty Good Architect" by TheOnion.com makes some valid points that many DIYers use today. I think that Walter Segal did it best by allowing the residents to use entirely prefabricated, modular materials to build their own homes based on his preplanned grids and modular components.
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