competition.

Here is a link to the competition that we will be participating in for the semester:

http://www.aias.org/kawneer/index.php

Paola was very committed to the idea of us participating in an active competition so that we could have the potential to submit our entry for recognition. She has also established the requirement that we develop two proposals amongst the four us because she thinks that it will facilitate a more generative process because the designs will not only push against each other but the division of the work will also allow us to more quickly come to decisions rather than all four of us stressing over the same minute detail. We have decided to actively participate in both of the designs rather than divide ourselves into two teams. As for the difference in the two designs, we're playing around with the idea of establishing a site in both a rural and urban context. Both are faced with deficient school conditions, but deal with two very different sets of problems. We're struggling now with whether or not we site the project in a location that is attempting to initiate school reform, but simply doesn't have the facilities or in a place that just has low standards of education in general. It seems to make sense that we'd site in a location that has the initiative and motivation to make a change to ensure it's "success." At the same time though, we've asked/challenge ourselves with this: "can architecture instigate a change in curriculum as well as preconceptions of education as a community endeavor."

There are some obvious technicalities that we are immediately wary of, but will try to approach it optimistically. The first of these is the requirement of Kawneer's products in our design towards a LEED certification. We have established a common desire to take a more passivhaus approach towards the sustainability factor, but like Jim told me last year, these elements are becoming the status quo and like egress and building codes will become something that just goes without saying.

We're very excited about the potential of working with children in development of the design. Harry has already established a connection who can give us access to one of the local elementary schools. We plan to interview the kids as well as the staff in an effort to produce something that will be actually be functional to its more important users.


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