• “Second-year program: typically fifteen to twenty second-year Auburn University architecture students move to Hale County for one semester and design/build a charity home.
• Thesis program: typically twelve Auburn University thesis architecture students move to Hale County for their fifth year. They form teams to plan, design and build community projects.
• Outreach Program: non-Auburn University graduates from around the world come to the Rural Studio to work on a joint project alongside the Thesis students.”

They also have a spiffy mission:

“To enable each participating student to cross the threshold of misconceived opinions to create/design/build and to allow students to put their educational values to work as citizens of a community. The Rural Studio seeks solutions to the needs of the community within the community’s own context, not from outside it. Abstract ideas based upon knowledge and study are transformed into workable solutions forged by real human contact, personal realization, and a gained appreciation for the culture.”

Of course there are the projects. Rural Studio has created some some very cool home. Not that they only tackle houses; they’ve also created shelters for animals, and plenty of public spaces. I like a lot of their work, but picked three nice random structures to share here…

Patrick House:

Lucy House:

Music Man’s House (sooooooo neat):

Each project page has more information about each structure plus great additional images. There’s a lot to see, but it’s so worth it, so set some time aside, and visit Rural Studio today.

[images via Rural Studio]

Post from: Blisstree

Rural Studio Projects

I don’t know why, but lately I’ve been stretching out from my usual feast of architect and green blogs, and while I was doing so, one blog I found happened to be Electro^Plankton. It was a good find though, because look at this stellar house they have posted:

It’s not so much a house as it is a chapel, but it’s weirding me out. Mainly because they note that it’s, “Off highway 1 in California” yet I never saw it. Was I in a complete fog in California or what? Maybe. See another picture of this hat-like abode.

They also have this item below, which I don’t like at all – but it is Offbeat material. I thought it might be fun to guess at this one. First take a look:

Can you tell what this item is? Before you look. I knew what it was, but for a few minor seconds, I had this feeling it was something else – what does it look like to you? Don’t cheat.

In any case, you can visit Electro^Plankton to see more of the strange and slick items they feature: I suggest you start with the following posts – perfect Offbeat Homes what not…

• If The Doorknob’s A-missin’, Don’t Come A-knockin’
• Artlebedev Defendius Door Chain – this post is too cool – go see.
• The Cell Toilet
• OMG Billboard Homes!

[All pics, links, etc, above via Electro^Plankton - the hopeless love is all me though]

Post from: Blisstree

Currently Hopelessly In Love With…. Electro^Plankton