#20kv21

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

Week 6

Day 1

Step 28: Make sure framing elevations are correct. Ours were not quite. We had some questions about our porch beam and the hanger that we specified, so we headed back to studio. 

Sep 29: Get rained out

Step 28: Start Framing walls

Step 29: Get rained out again and head back to studio

That’s all the construction for today

Sincerely,

v21 Team

[20kv22home]

The 24th Annual Rural Studio Pig Roast

Hey strangers! It’s been quite a while since we checked in with y’all, and for that, we apologize. This past month has certainly flown by, and now that we have a chance to catch our breath, we can’t wait to tell you all about it!

For those of you that were able to make it out to the annual Rural Studio Pig Roast, thanks so much for coming!! By all accounts, it was a true Pig Roast: an action-packed Saturday full of amazing projects, beautiful weather, delicious food, and all of our friends and families!

The day kicked off with a caravan to Faunsdale where we got to check in on the progress that Anna, Jenny, Grant, and John have made on the Community Center. Everything looks great so far! And while we’re excited for this team to finish, we’re definitely going to miss these friends that have become role models to us!

From Faunsdale, we drove to Dodge City, where the third year students officially opened Ree’s Home! Located right next door to Geraldine’s Home, Ree’s Home is an iteration of Joanne’s Home (20Kv10), with a slightly modified, efficient and square floor plan. Emily McGlohn and Alex Therrien, the third year professors, emcee’d the ribbon cutting event; and Ree’s family was there to thank everyone and take their first steps in the (nearly) completed new home.

At high noon, we headed back to Morisette for lots of talking and lots of tacos. Once we satisfied ourselves with both, we ventured over to the Fabrication Pavilion for the Horseshoe Farm Homes presentation and to see their full-scale mock-up. The drawings and renderings looked spectacular! And their mock-up shows just how hard Sydney, Gavin, Lauren, and Frank have been working to finalize their design and start working on the details that will bring their drawings to life.

Our team left the presentation a little early to head to the Model Home Village where we would be doing our own presentation. Off to a shaky start, the wind had blown our boards off of the plywood stands, and there were tiny termites flying around and permeating the air like humidity. If that was not enough, it was also the hottest time of day; and though we were on the porch, the audience was out in the unshaded yard, after walking a quarter mile to our location.

Nevertheless, after an enthusiastic introduction, a brief run through of all the research we’ve done so far, and the infinite list of thank you’s, everyone applauded and congratulated us on the work we’d accomplished this year. Not only were our friends and families in attendance, but so were some of our favorite consultants and our favorite 20K team - 20Kv21! To the tune of some house-themed music hits (playlist coming soon!), everyone made their way through the Baseline Home and read more about our project before it was time to go to downtown Greensboro to see the Horseshoe Farm Courtyard Project.

Tired, and a little dehydrated, we cleaned up, locked up, and left out of the Model Home Village feeling lighter and brighter. In Greensboro, where everyone ended up taking a coffee break and overloaded the only coffee shop in town, the Horseshoe Farm Courtyard Project eventually began their presentation. Caleb, Claudia, Claire, and Zack wowed us all with their attention to detail and dedication to making this courtyard a positive impact to the regular attendees and visitors at the Horseshoe Farm Hub.

As the sun began to set, we paraded down AL HWY 61 to the Bodark Amphitheater behind Chantilly. Along the way, we stopped by the Woodshop to see the third year’s chairs and boards. Catfish, pork, hush puppies, baked beans, and more Hale County delicacies awaited us atop the hill before we descended to our seats in front of the stage. The Grasshopper String Band played us soft tunes while we ate, before breaking for the Rural Studio Pig Roast Valediction Ceremony.

And what a Valediction Ceremony it was! It was Xavi’s second time hosting, and he did not disappoint. After an inspiring commencement speech from the illustrious Tom Kundig and a few words from Architecture Head, Christian Dagg, all of us fifth-years went up on stage to get “roasted” to death. Somehow, and with alarming accuracy, Xavi was able to recall details about us that even we did not know! Like a detective at a lineup, he called out the bizarre and little-known facts about us in such a way that anyone could tell that he spent too much time looking into this and that he definitely must have had help. To the delight of the crowd, he roasted every last one of us before giving us a hug and our graduation gifts (two books), and ushering us off the stage. Laughter, tears, lots of thank you’s, and more laughter brought us from an orange sky to a navy dusk; and once the sun had given way to the other stars in the sky, so too concluded the 2018 Rural Studio Pig Roast.

When you find out that you’ve been admitted to Rural Studio for your Thesis project, it takes a long time to really hit you. Of course, there’s immediate joy and disbelief - after all, the privilege to study at Rural Studio has been the dream for most of us ever since we applied to Auburn University. But having almost no idea what to expect is an ignorant kind of bliss, and the summer melts away too quickly to get nervous. When you move out to Hale County and begin class with your studio, it still doesn’t quite hit you. The rigor of the projects and the rhythm of this curriculum keeps you on track and motivated to design and detail everything incredibly well and to a high-level of accuracy. It’s so easy to become so immersed in your project and why you’re doing it that you hardly come up for air from August to April. And it isn’t until Pig Roast that we all sit back and look at all the work we’ve done; what we’ve finished on April 28th integrates thousands of hours of charettes, day-long discussions, reviews, critiques, builds, and trace paper, as well as five incredible years of architecture school.

Sitting on a folding chair with a lap full of fried catfish, while taking a deep breath under the stars, in the shadow of Chantilly, in the middle of nowhere, with your teachers and your townspeople, among the classmates that turned into friends and the teammates that turned into family, in early summer a week before you graduate, while everyone sings along to the unfamiliar but catchy tune of “One Meatball” as it fiddles out into the night, it finally hits you: where you are and what you get to do and what a privilege it all is. It hits you like fireworks.

Teary-eyed and yours,

The 20Kv22 team

[3rdyearstudio-2018]

Welcome to Rural Studio’s 3rd-year blog! We are so excited to be spending this semester in Newbern, AL and look forward to sharing our experiences with you. This year, the 3rd-year studio will be designing and building a home for our wonderful client, Ree. But before we give you project updates, we’d like to introduce ourselves.

Name: Andrew Frese

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

Fun Fact: I aspired to build Battle Bots as a kid.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I saw Rural Studio as a good opportunity to give back to my home state while also learning about architecture.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv10 Joanne’s Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: I like how tight knit the local community is.

Name: Ashley Bucher

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Fun Fact: I’ve been to 42 states.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I’ve been around construction my whole life and wanted the opportunity to build something.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv07 Bridge Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: Even though we are still in school, it feels like we have a real job.

Name: Conner Quinn

Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA

Fun Fact: I’ve wrestled an alligator (it wasn’t that big).

Why you came to Rural Studio: Because there are no other programs like Rural Studio, it is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv15 Idella’s Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: Living in “the dungeon” (pod 5) is better than I expected.

Name: Cory Subasic

Hometown: Raleigh, NC

Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking and giving good haircuts.

Why you came to Rural Studio: It’s a unique opportunity to be fully a part of the community here.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv21 Buster’s Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: I met my best friend Charlie.

Name: Hayley Hendrick

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Fun Fact: I competed in the semi-finals of the national dog show when I was 12.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I have always admired Rural Studio’s work.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv08 Dave’s Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: I love how everyone in the town is so nice and caring towards each other.

Name: Henry Savoie

Hometown: Santa Rosa Beach, FL

Fun Fact: I am the oldest of 8 kids.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I wanted to work directly with clients, engage with the community, and build something I helped design.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv04 Pattern Book Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: The quality of the food is really great.

Name: Jonathan Schneider

Hometown: Stone Mountain, GA

Fun Fact: I’m from Atlanta.

Why you came to Rural Studio: It was the best decision an architecture student could make.

Favorite 20K Home: Ree’s Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: The weather is always a nice surprise.

Name: Kevin Jeon

Hometown: Montgomery, AL

Fun Fact: I can sleep anywhere, anytime, in any position.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I wanted to experience a design-build program.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv04 Pattern Book Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: I can live without air conditioning.

Name: Kyle Anderson

Hometown: Harvest, AL

Fun Fact: I cut my toe in half when I was in third grade (it’s still there).

Why you came to Rural Studio: I wanted to live in a place that is different than anything I’ve ever experienced and interact with new people. I also wanted to learn to build.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv07 Bridge Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: Rural Alabama has a lot more to offer than I expected. It’s a really cool place.

Name: Kyra Stark

Hometown: Overland Park, KS

Fun Fact: I cry from laughter on the daily.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I wanted to go outside of my comfort zone to a place that would change my perspective. I also wanted to learn how buildings are made from the beginning design process to final construction.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv03 Truss Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: When the only priorities in your life are the people around you and your shared passion for architecture, it’s easy to make great friends.

Name: Lauren Wertz

Hometown: Mobile, AL

Fun Fact: My family has lived in Mobile for over 150 years.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I wanted to see how architecture can affect the community for the greater good.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv04 Pattern Book Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: Living in a cardboard box (pod 1) has actually been pretty great.

Name: Livia Barrett

Hometown: Hoover, AL

Fun Fact: My grandfather, who was an FBI agent, arrested Lee Harvey Oswald.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I never felt at home growing up in the South and I wanted to crawl deeper into the belly of the beast.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv21 Buster’s Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: I had heard about the community aspect of Rural Studio, but it doesn’t even compare to the real experience.

Name: Marlyn Rivera

Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA

Fun Fact: I have a twin sister.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I liked the idea of being able to build something I helped design while in school, especially something that would impact people’s lives.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv07 Bridge Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: I’m really good at killing bugs now.

Name: Regan Eiland

Hometown: Redlands, CA

Fun Fact: I don’t know how to surf.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I think that studying affordable housing is a worthwhile topic of study because it impacts real people who don’t always get a choice about the architecture around them.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv15 Idella’s Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: Ghosts are real and my bedroom is haunted.

Name: Will Hall

Hometown: Decatur, AL

Fun Fact: My truck has more Instagram followers than I do.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I wanted to learn more about the process a building goes through from initial design process to final construction.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv07 Bridge Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: I found out how much I can really sweat. 

Name: Zoey Gerstner

Hometown: Greenville, SC

Fun Fact: My initials spell ZAG and my brother’s initials spell ZIG.

Why you came to Rural Studio: I wanted to improve my communication skills.

Favorite 20K Home: 20Kv04 Pattern Book Home

Biggest surprise about Rural Studio so far: The reception from my bedroom is pretty good.

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 10 Day 1

Step 46: Install Purlins

We finished all the purlins on the back

Step 47: Paint visible purlins

That’s all for today! Sincerely,

v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21 A construction series Week 11 day 3 Step 57: Install roof metal We got all the roof metal and flashing installed. It was a long day, but worth it! We beat the rain and got the roof installed That's all for today! Sincerely, v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21 A construction series Week 10 day 4 We got rained out again! Here are some animals from the site for your enjoyment That's all for today, stay safe in the storm! Sincerely, v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21 A construction series Week 10 day 3 We got rained out again! Here are some slab pour gifs. Clyde Fields team beautifully finishing our slab, and later in the day us playing on the slab while it’s being watered! That’s all for today, stay safe in the storm! Sincerely, v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 10 Day 2

Step 46: Install Purlins

We finished all the purlins!

Step 48: Second coat of paint on the visible purlins

We got our metal delivered!

That’s all for today! Sincerely,

v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 9 Day 5

Step 46: Install purlins

Halfway done with the back of the roof

That’s all for this week, thanks for stopping by! Sincerely,

v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 9 Day 4

Step 45: Install visible purlins on the back

That’s all for today! Sincerely,

v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 9 Day 3

Step 45: Install visible purlins on the front

We finished the first three rows on the front!

That’s all for today! Sincerely,

v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 9 Day 2

Step 43: Raise Trusses

A big thanks to Alex, JP, Xavi and Steve for lending a hand or operating machinery

Step 44: Brace and level trusses

That’s all for today! Sincerely,

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 9 Day 1

Step 41: Mark top of walls for Trusses

Step 42: Get all wood and necessary equipment to site for installing trusses

Tomorrow we raise trusses!

That’s all for today! Sincerely,

v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 8 Day 5

Step 39: Cut the beam

Step 40: Install the beam

Thanks again to Boozer Beam for the donation of the Glulam!

That’s all for this week, thanks for stopping by!

Sincerely,

v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 8 Day 4

Field Trip!

Boozer Beam donated the beam we needed to support our large inset porch. This meant we got the amazing opportunity to go visit Boozer Beam in Anniston Alabama and pick up our beam! The wonderful team there took us on a tour of the facility and we were super excited to see first hand how glulams were made. A million thanks to Bud at Boozer Beam for not only donating the beam, but for spending an afternoon discussing how beams were made and ethics of building materials!  

So excited to get our first donation!

That’s all for today!

Sincerely,

v21 Team

[20kv21]

Building v21

a construction series

week 8 Day 3

Testing Testing 1,2,3

always good to start the day out with a lot of enthusiasm! 

We spent the day in a similar fashion as yesterday except we made some decisions. Our siding is going to be a small corrugated metal, installed horizontally, and the roof will contrast this in a larger corrugation in galvalume.

Also We’ve got trusses! Now for lifting them up…

Sincerely,

v21 Team