05ruralhousing.pdf

Rural

Housing:

Reflecting

the

Spirit

of a

Culture

TheauthordiscussestheAuburnUniversityrural studio prof(ram,aprogramthatseelistohelp poverty stricken

Alabama

ruralcommunitiestacklehousingchallenges. Eachsemester,fifteentotwenty

A

V

architecturestudents

move

toHaleCount}'andhelp familiesdesignandconstruct houses. Examplesof

studenthousingprojectsare presented.

Dennis

K.

Ruth

In 1993.

two

Auburn

Universityarchitecture professors.Dennis Ruth and Samuel Mocl^bee.

established the

Auburn

University'RuralStudio withinthe university'sSchool ofArchitecture.

The

Rural Studio,conceivedasa

method

to

improvethelivingconditionsinrural

Alabama

andto includehands-onexperience inan

architecturalpedagogy,begandesigningand

building

homes

inthefallof1993. Professor

Samuel

Mockbee

and Professor Dennis K. Ruth

soughtfundingtobeginthe studioand.through

the years,ithas receivedadditionalfunding

which hashelped it

become

what it istoday: a vision ofaprocessto

make

housingand

community

projects inoneofthepoorestregions

ofthe nation.

The

students

who

attend the Rural Studio

expandtheirdesignknowledgethroughactually

buildingwhattheyhavedesigned. Utilizing the

conceptof""context-based learning." theRural Studio asksthe studenttoleave the university environment andtakeupresidency inaregion such as Hale County.Alabama. In doingso,the studentjoinsapoverty-strickenregionand

"'sharesthe sweat" with a housingclient

who

lives farbelow thepovertylevel.

The

goalof

thisexerciseis torefinethe student'ssocial conscience and to learn first-hand the necessary social,culturalandtechnologicalconceptsof

designingandbuilding.

The

concept of context-based learninghas enabledtheRural Studiotobe aleaderin

envisioningaprocessby whichruralhousing,

withspirit,can be designed, produced,andbuilt.

The

termprocess isa valuableonehere, forthe

conceptofthe Rural Studio isnotcentered in the

designofprototypesor theproductionof housing

types to be occupied bya re-located culture.

Rather, itenvisionsa processcountertothe

mass

productionof ""dumb"boxes whereall familiesandcultures areseen empiricallyasthe

same.

The

Rural Studio isabout housingofthe "particular." itdemonstratesthe

known

axiom

that artmustinform scienceandthatempirical

knowledge

mustbe overlaid withthevaluesand

social manifestationsofa culture.

Refiningourruralcommunitiesisadifficult

taskat best,and the rootofthistaskshouldbe a

processofprovidingshelter forthoserural

families

who

havefallen throughall thesafety netsdesignedtohousetheeconomically

disadvantaged.

As

poetWendell Berry reminds

us, ""there is nosafetyin belongingtotheselect

few, forminority people or

anybody

else. If

we

Professor

Dennis

Ruth,

together with

Professor Samuel Mockbee. established the

Auburn

L'niversity Kiiral Studio in 1993.

Professor Ruth holds an undergraduate

dejgree in Architecture from

Auburn

University

and a Master's of Architecture from Harvard

University.

He

has served as Department

Head

for the School of --Irchitecture at -luburn and as

Dean

of the College of

Architecture, Design, and Construction.

A

registered architect with

NCARB

certification.

Professor Ruth presently teaches in the

School of Architecture at -{uburn University and serves as Director of the Rural Studio. The Rural Studio can be found on the Internet

arelookingforinsurance against

want

and oppression,

we

willtlnditonlyinourneighbors'

prosperity and

goodw

illand.be\

ond

that, inthe goodhealthof our worldlyplaces,our

homelands." Rural

America

exhibits agenuine

appreciationand affection forpeople andplace. Participatinginthe nobilityofthingssimpleand

common

throughthedesign ofplacesand houses intheruralenvironmentprovesto be

invigorating.

Our

ruralculturesare collective communitiesrichin historyandthe traditionof self-reliance. Rural

America

values and respects its matriarchs and patriarchs while envisioningprosperit\ foritschildrenandtheir

children's children.

Through

necessity,its

citizensunderstandthe cvclesofweather, the

properorientationofabuilding

w

iththesunand theshade ofa liveoaktree. History has taught

them

thata breeze tlowingthrough a househas

the

pow

erto e.xhaust the heat ofthe da\ and pro\ ide arestful peacein the night.

The

expectationofclean waterfrom wellsand

streams has instilledarespect for the disposal of sewage and waste water. In short, ourrural

communitiesaresimple andactual.

A

process forprovidingruralhousing shouldbuildonthis simplicity.

The

Rural Studio process asks that providers

ofruralhousingbuild

upon

sevenprimary

themes. Thev are:

•

An

appreciauon and attecrion forpeople

and place;

• EnlighteniTient trom the simpleandthe actual;

•

An

architectural

common

ground benveen technolog\' and found objects;

• Recycling does not necessarilv

mean

re-making but can

mean

reinterpreting; • There IS a nobilir\' in things genuineand

nottobe stunned by tlie

power

of

modern

technology and economic

influence;

• Housing should reflect thespiritot the

user, the creativityot the designer, and

the hand of the craftsman. Don't be

amazed ifall three are found in one; and •

One

IS always a sen-ant to a culturally

rich collective community-.

The

Rural Studioalsocontendsthatfor rural

housingtobesignificantitmustunderstandthe

importance oflandanddwellingownershipin

ordertobuild where people liveand wherethey

ow

n. Itmustunderstandthatthe ""spirit" of

shelter isasbasic as shelteritselfandunderstand

theexistenceofa rich cultural tradition in order tocapitalizeon it.Studentsshould understandthe issueof designingfortheparticular, and""share

the sweat" in orderto build a team. Itteaches

participantsto never underestimatethesense of

familv and

community

andtoinvolvetheyoung.

The

project seeksto understandthe transitory effectsof

how

trailers, prototype housing,and

gov

emment

programs emphasize""housing for the masses." and to alwaysask ""where dothe children play?" Students mustbe aware ofthe

importanceofothers and whatthey bringtothe process,and striveto ""thinkoutsidethebox."

remembering

thatexperimentation generates

ideasthatwork.

The

Rural Studio seeksto

understand theoppositeend ofaffluence and realize that

many

familiesfallthroughthe""safety

net."Finally,the

community must

understand thattechnologyisfriendly,andtheyshould understandthat university studentsarea tremendousresourceofcaring,talent,ingenuity and hard work.

The

Rural Studio is a case study

inthe appreciationandconsiderationofthese

preceptsand issues. It isa multifaceted program

with an ultimategoalof improvingtheeducation

of

Auburn

University'sCollegeofArchitecture.

Design,andConstruction students while

simultaneousi) improvingthe qualitv oflifeinone ofthepoorestregionsinthe nation.

The

studiois locatedinwesternAlabama, in remote Hale County.Accordingtothe

ADECA

1997

Alabama County

Data Book, with a

per-capitaincomeof$12.292 (onlyfifty-ninepercent

ofthe U.S.percapita income),roughlyone-third ofthisregion's residentslivebelowthepoverty level.

More

thana quarterofthepopulation

receives food stamps, and the percentage of residents

who

are unemployed, at 13.1 percent,

is

more

thandoubletheaverage

unemployment

Each semester, fifteen totwent\'second

yeararchitecture students leave

Auburn

University and

move

to

Newbem,

Alabama

(in Hale County). Students, together withthe Hale

County Department of

Human

Resources, find a

familyinneed,ascertainitshousingneeds,

designa house based uponthoseneeds, and

beginthefoundationsofthestructure. In

subsequent semesters, a differentgroupof studentsmodifiesthedesignwhileactually

constructingthe house.

Working

fromitsmostvitalideology,

teaching students through context-basedlearning,

thatis.actually livinginand

becoming

apartof

the

community

anddesigningandbuildinghouses

withinthecommunity,theRuralStudiohas establishedfour

main

goals, as follows:

• _To give stiiJent.s _ofthe School of

Architecture the opportunity to learn

the critical skills _ofplanning, designing,

and

building houses in a

concrete, practical,

and

socially

responsible

manner

This goal is

achievedthroughtheRural Studio's

hands-on.culturallybased curriculum

andisexemplifiedinthe projects

planned, designed,andbuiltby Rural Studiostudents. Undergraduatestudents ofarchitectureconceptualizetheir

projects, leadingtheprocesses involved

inconstructionwhile carryingtheir

projectsthroughtoconstruction.

• To

form

leadership qualities in students by instilling the social ethics ofprofessionalism. volunteerism. individual responsibility,

and

community

service. Rural Studio

projects are structured in such a

way

as

to teach students each ofthese

concepts.

The

actof attendingthe Rural Studioitselfisavoluntaryactbecause, although the students receivefifteen hoursofacademiccredit,participation is

notrequired by theSchoolof Architecture.

• To help communities, through

partnerships with the stale

and

local

welfare agencies, provide suitable

and

dignifiedhousing. This goal,

when

realized, facilitateskeeping

families together, engendersa senseof

self-worthandwell-being, helps

move

socialsecurity recipients fromwelfareto work,andprovidesfamilieswithastrong

emotionalconnectionto theirhome. Ultimately,itprovidesrural familiesin

poverty witha strongersenseofstability.

• _{To develop} materials, methods,

and

technologies that will house the rural

poor

in dignity

and

mitigate the

effects of poverty

upon

rural living conditions. Students are encouraged, through curriculum requirements,to research innovative and sustainable materialsandconstruction techniques.

The

students havethus farcompleted one

home

peryear.

The

completed

homes

thatmost clearlydemonstrate ourprinciples arethe Bryant

House

(the

"Hay

Bale" house), the Harris

House

(the "Butterfly"house), andthe Lewis

House. Studentsare

now

working on the

Shannon

Sanders-DutleyHouse, tobea

home

fora family with sixchildren.

Our

studentshave alsocompleted

numerous

community

projects,

among

which include awarm/dr\

room

foran

elderly

man

touseinlieuofgoingintonursing

careand re-roofing a trailerso that a mother

couldbere-joined

w

ithherchildren. In

conjunction withthesehousesand

community

projects,studentshavebuiltexperimentalhousing

podsfortheir

own home

attheRural Studio. These pods showcaseexperimental methods of

constructionand

community

living.

The

latest

example ofstudenthousingisaCorrugated Cardboard Bale Student Pod

whose

principles

willbe applied infuture

home

design.

The

Bryant

House

Called the

"Hay

Bale House"because of walls constructed ofhay bales, the Bryant

House

two

grandchildren. Locatedin

Mason's

Bend, the24-inch-thick walls are stackedhay bales thathave been stuccoed overand provide

excellentnatural,andinexpensiveinsulation.

One

wood-burningstove,locatedinthe living

room

ofthe house, heatsthe entire structure, and thehouse remainscoolthroughoutthe

summer

becauseofnatural ventilationprovidedby

awning

windows

inthe frontofthehouse. In

keepingwithSouthern culture,thehouse hasa largefrontporch covered with an inexpensive

acrylicroof Because Shepard Bryant isa

fisherman,thesisstudent ScottStaffordbuilt

him

a

smokehouse

to therightofthe

main

structure.

The smokehouse was

builtof stone and covered

with a roof

made

ofused D.O.T. signs at atotal

costofapproximately $40.00.

The

Harris

House

The

Harris House,

home

of Anderson and

Ora

LeeHarris,

was

builtinthe 1996/1997

academicyear by second andthirdyear

students. Calledthe"Butterfly

House"

because

ofitssharplyangled roofstructure,the house

was

a challenge tothe students for several reasons. First, because Mrs. Harris is

handicapped,thehousehadtobedesignedto

accommodate

a wheelchair.

The

doorways are

wide andeasilyaccessible, withawheelchair

ramp

leadingto the front door. In thebathroom, fixtures arewithin easy reach ofa

wheelchair-bound

person. Second,thehouse isdesignedto

have several energy/cost efficient features.

The

househadtohaveventilation thatwouldallowitto be heatedandcooledasinexpensively as possible.

The

house is heatedby acentrallyplaced

wood-burningstove. Vents, insertednearthe

roofofthehouse,

may

be openedtoallow forair

circulation in the

warmer

monthsorclosedin the

winter

months

to traphotairinsidethehouse.

A

huge fan atthe rearofthe house draws air throughthe central livingarea.

The

roofis

angledtocollectrainwaterintoacistern. This gray water system is used to

wash

clothes and flushtoilets.

The

househasa constructed

wetlandsewerpurificationsystemthatprovides fertilizationtoagarden inthebackyardand puritiesseptic system effluentbefore itreaches

thewellthatholds drinkingwater.

The

greatest

challengetothe designers

was

toremai'iwithin budget(in thiscase, under$30,000).

To

help

meetthisgoal,theroof ofthe houseiscladintin,

w

ithtinandsalvaged 105 year-old

wood

usedfor

the walls.

The

Lewis

House

Second-yearRural Studio studentsfrom

1997until 1999designedandbuilttheLewis

House,

home

toEvelynLewis andher four

children.

The

students selected theclientwith

theguidanceofthe Hale

County

Department of

Human

Resources.

Headed

by a singlemother, thisfamilyhad been livingapart foryearsinthe

homes

offriends and relatives.

Lack

of

resources and affordablehousinghad forced

Evelynto disperseherchildren into different

homes

throughout Hale County. Shewantedher

familyto liveunderone roof Thisdesire sether familyapartfromthe

numerous

needy families the studentshadmet.

Inasimple but innovativedesign,four

bedrooms,a livingroom,akitchen,andabath

comprisethe

Lewis

House.

The

students

wanted to

make

thehouse as functional and economicalas possible,witheach

room

serving multipleuses.

The

familyhadconsiderableinput

intothe design,and bothmother andchildren

made

requests thatwereincluded inthe completed structure.

The

bathroom is

compartmentalized sothat

two

peoplecan useit

atthe

same

time for different purposes. Each of

the children's

bedrooms

has a study space, and

each

bedroom

hasits

own

closetand loft storage

space.

A

central hall connectsall

rooms

inthe

house. Additional

book

storagespace isbuiltinto

walls.

Windows

ineach ofthe

bedrooms

are

aligned withlargedoorstothehallway, large exteriordoors, and openingstotakeadvantage of

cool

summer

breezes. Inaddition,thehallway

includesclearstor\'ventingso that theLewis

7}

C

o

c

Clockwise from lopleft:

LewisHouse, Bryant House, HarrisHouse

o

m

z

z

M

C

H

I

Shannon

Sanders-Dutley

House

Withtheassistance ofthe Hale

County

Department of

Human

Resources. 1999-2000

Rural Studio secondyear studentsselected the

Sanders-Dutley familytobeclientsfor a house.

The

parents are in their mid-twentiesand have

sixchildren.

The

houseencompassesfifteen

hundred square feet and incorporates three bedrooms,two-and-a-halfbathrooms,a

kitchen-family

room

combination,adiningroom,anda

den.

The

family gatheringspacesopenontoa centralcourtyard, bathed in light atsunriseand

sunset.

The

house is designedto

accommodate

the

many

differentneedsofsuch a large family, anditattemptstogive childrenand parents

adequateprivate space whilecreating

rooms

that fosterfamily interaction. Great consideration

hectic taskofrearingsixchildren.

The

material

palletemploys

rammed

earthforallexterior walls, asteel roofstructure, metal studs,and

sheetrockon the interiorandan abundance of glassandtransparent sheets of polycarbonate in

clereston,'windows.

The

rammed

earth construction chosenfor the Sanders-Dutleyhouseisabuildingtechnique

in

which

a cement-soil mixtureiscompacted into

fornis tocreate load-bearing wallsthat harden

intowhatisessentially

man-made,

engineered

rock. After extensivetests and mock-ups.

rammed

earth

was

chosen fortheconstruction

method

becauseofitsdurability,a natural

resistance to tire, and its sense ofpermanence

andsecurity. Except for

some

experimental

housingbuiltinthe 1930"snearBirmingham. Alabama,theSanders-Dutley

House

will

possiblybethefirsthouse in theSoutheast touse

this

method

ofconstruction.

Corrugated Cardboard

Bale Student

Pod

The

purposeofthisproject istoexperiment

with bales ofwastewax-impregnated corrugated clippingsinconstruction. Thesebaleshave

many

propertiesthat

make

them promising

buildingmaterials.

The

thicknessofthebaleswill provideexcellent insulation,whilethedense packingofthecorrugateclippingswillcreate a

strong load-bearingstructure.Additionally, the

thennal

mass

createdwill help keepthestructure

cool in the

summer

and

warm

in winter,andthe

corrugatedbales

make

good

material for fast, efficientconstructionforruralhousing.

The

firsthouseutilizing thisconstruction

material isa studenthousing"pod." Thispod

incorporates corrugatedbales inboththe

foundationandwalls. Using whatis teamed

throughthematerials investigationsandthe "pod"prototype.anotherstructurewill be designedandbuilt to testadditionalideas.

The

architectural students,while applyingthe

Rural Studio processinthebuildingofthese

houses, havealso used basic architectural

principles as partoftheirdesign process. Ifone

looksclosely,onecanfindanapplicationof

nature's materialsand foundobjectsavailablein therural landscape.

The

housesapply

sustainableculturalprinciples,simple adaptable technology,andrecycling. Visiting the

homes

today, itis apparentthatthe houses have fitthe

social,cultural,andclimatecontextwiththeir planning. Front porches, screen porches,and

accessibleexteriorspacesarewell utilized and thehouses have proven adaptable over timeto each family's particularuse.

Low

energycost andconservation isreflectedinplanlayout,the

useofnatural ventilation,andenerg\-conser\ing

methods

ofconstruction. Reflectinguponthe

pictorial qualityofthesehomes, onecan see the

influenceofcylindrical haybalesreadytobe

stored lyingin fields, seedbams, and

smokehouses, aswell as thepatinaofcolorsand textures foundonlyinruralAmerica.

These

homes

act to improvethe healthand

happinessofthe residentsofHale Count>'. Alabama.

They

are. however. onl\ partofthe

RuralStudiostor}' in ruralAmerica.

Our

students are alsoengaged in thedesign and

constructionof

community

projectssuchas children'scentersandplaygrounds,boysand

girlsclubs,community pavilions,chapels, baseball andplayfields,performancetheaters,

community

centers, and historic preservation.

As

aresultof

collaborationbetween faculty

members,

students,

and

community members,

many

ofthegoals of

the Rural Studio wereaccomplished.

Toward

thisend.the facultyofthe RuralStudio-

Andrew

Freear. SteveHoffman. Dick Hudgens. and

Samuel

Mockbee

and Dennis Ruth - have been

responsiblefortheguidance impartedtostudents

in allofthe projectsandconceptsdelineated.

To

theuntrained eye. themeasure of successoftheRural Studio isin itsbuiltprojects: in reality, its success is measured by itseffect

uponthe livesofthefaculty,students, families. andcommunitiesittouches. It isnotonlythe

buildingsthat

make

the Rural Studiowhatitis.

but also theeducation the studentsreceiveabout

architectureandaboutsociety. Ultimately, itis

about "sharingthesweat"withthe community,(f^