Design-Build
I have been asked to find and analyse at least one international academic design-build project, in which I must describe the following: the background of the project; the organizational aspects; the students perceptions and participation; the pedagogic rationale; the buildings design and construction; and how successful the project was in my opinion
The Architectural department of the University of Washington offers the invaluable opportunity for student to be a part of a ‘design-build’ program through the Howard S. Wright Neighbourhood Design/Build Studio. The studio is erected for architecture graduates and undergraduates to design and build small non-profit community projects in the Seattle-area, USA. This opportunity allows the students, working in groups, to “gain experience with clients, public agencies, material and assembly details, and hands-on construction while working to benefit people in the greater community”, and “Students are responsible for site analysis and planning, project design, production of working drawings, materials procurement, fabrication, and scheduling”. The course objectives are “collaborative, consensus design experience”; “Learning-by-doing and real-world design”; “development of communication skills”; and “redefinition of values – community service / commitment” (see reference)
A specific design-build project of the Howard S. Wright Neighbourhood Design/Build Studio that caught my attention is the ‘playhouse’ as part of the Wellspring Family Services in Seattle
Background of the project
Information on the site: “Wellspring Family Services. 1900 Rainier Ave South. Rainier Valley, Seattle. Bordered by 23rd and Rainier Avenues South, the new home of Wellspring Family Services resides on a triangular site with views of Mount Rainier to the south and Beacon Hill to the west. Designed by Weinstein A|U, the building's three-bar scheme takes advantage of solar orientation, programmatic needs, outdoor gathering spaces and privacy concerns.” (See reference)
Being in one of the most culturally diverse areas of the USA, the Wellsprings Family Services has dedicated themselves to uplifting the community and sustaining a culture of a safe community. This includes teaching families on self-sustainability; providing homeless children with early education; child care.
While the Wellsprings Family Centre was still under construction, the need for a storage area and a play area for children came to light. and the problem was communicated to the University of Washington’s architectural department
Organizational aspects
The site and brief is observed and scrutinized by lecturers of the leaders of the project in the fall, the in the spring break, the students form groups and start the design build process. As the introduction paragraph states, the “Students are responsible for site analysis and planning, project design, production of working drawings, materials procurement, fabrication, and scheduling”.
Student perceptions and participation
“The design team of sixteen graduate and undergraduate students was required to meet child privacy and safety requirements as well as prefabricate the structures off-site due to limited access while the building was under construction.” (See reference)
The pedagogic rationale
What I understand of the pedagogic rationale is the academic thought behind the subject
Building design and construction
How successful the project was in your opinion
In my opinion, the project’s success lay in the colours. The playhouse extension being built primarily for children, it has to captivate their attention - Colours and asymmetry does just that. The coloured slide walls of the structure provide the necessary privacy, and provides an abundance of the ‘cloud’ ceilings allow for the young ones to escape into their fantasies
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