Two things I learnt from the Rural Studio

 

Samuel Mockbee's Rural Studio aims to make the point that all people, regardless of income or social status, are entitled to the benefits of good design and that architects are responsible for creating beautiful, functional, and affordable spaces. For this to be achieved, the design process must be collaborative and involve the community in which the building is to be constructed. Mockbee believed that involving the community in the design process would make the resulting building more responsive to its needs and better reflect its values and culture.

The overarching goal of the rural studio was to emphasize the importance of understanding your user before designing for them. It has become much easier to hash out a design 'solution' based on your perceived notion of the user's needs. However, it might require you to put yourself out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in the reality of your user. Though this may not be physically possible in all situations, it is a critical mindset to cultivate - that I, the architect, am not the all-encompassing source of knowledge, break pre-conceived notions you have, and have the humility and willingness to learn.

Mockbee also emphasizes the importance of social responsibility and architects' role in shaping the built environment. He also calls upon architects to be active rather than passive members of the profession's decision-making processes. While I agree in theory with everything he is saying, as discussed in class, practically applying it in real life is a little more complex. 

As a designer starting out, you are a little fish in a big pond. If you did want to immediately oppose something happening in your firm, you'd be given two options - to keep quiet and go with it or be elegantly shown the door. So how do you take part in this? To get to a position where your opinion matters, you will likely have to stick through years of having to do things you don't necessarily agree with. I think that's why it's essential to define your morals and values and not lose the fire you have for them so that when you do eventually work your way up to that position of leadership/ when your opinion does have weight, you can be the change you want to see and stand up for what is right.