Real Architecture Workshop.
Real Architecture Workshop, or RAW as it is more often referred to, is a design/build program for students looking to learn in a hands-on environment. The thought is that students design things in the classroom all the time but very rarely get real world experience and have little knowledge of material. It is that tangible knowledge that informs future designs and allows an architect to design more effectively and with material limitations and capabilities in mind.
Custer, SD 2018
In the most recent RAW project in which I participated, we built a two-deck system into the rocky terrain of the Black Hills that looked to blur the line that exists between natural and designed. There were many challenges that we had to factor into our design/build process, one of the most difficult being lifting a full-size tree column up an incredibly steep hill and getting it vertical, but the result was well worth it. Another one of my favorite features that really emphasizes the seamless transition from naturalistic to manmade is the scribed edges of the deck that follow the natural curves of the rock formations.
Oaxaca, Mexico 2017
This project, while simple in function, has extremely detailed features and was incredibly executed with the help of local knowledge and resources. The end goal was an outdoor gathering/picnic area, so we first contemplated layout and placed our site plan in order to take advantage of the sun rise and sunset and the spectacular views. We then sourced the wood from a nearby sawmill owned by a local in San Pablo Etla, and used it as a mold for our board form concrete which turned out absolutely stunning. That being said, the blackened wood is my favorite detail, having used a method called Shou Shugi Ban which naturally protects the wood from weather and pests.
Arusha, Tanzania 2016
Expanding the Neema House Orphanage is the most ambitious RAW project to date, both in scale and method. The learning curve was intense as many of the building techniques used in Arusha, while effective, are very dated and require more of a mastery than the techniques currently used in the United States. For example, all of the concrete was mixed by hand and instead of using a level to make sure that the walls were plum, we used a plum-bob and relied on the locals for technique. The overarching purpose of the structure was to house the orphans that would live on the campus for most or all of their lives due to conditions that would prevent them from being adopted. With that in mind, we added whimsical windows at different heights and sizes that would allow the children to interact with one another and promote play.
