A Successful Project

Even-though it might not have been the coolest thing I saw on the trip, I thought the Lions Park project was the most successful project as a whole and serves as a good case study for our two sites. When doing this exercise, I tried to think about it with our projects in mind. Although Lions Park was still under construction and probably still being designed, it seemed to be well thought out and a good example of how to engage the site. The "sticks" bring energy as well as functionality throughout the site with out having to spend a lot of money. Even the way that the existing road was cut to create a running path is a good example of how we can be creative and still save money. We need to look at what the site has given us already and think of ways we might can deconstruct it or transform it into something that might serve a better purpose.

Rural Studio Trip

The entire trip to Rural Studio was very inspiring and a good way to get ideas flowing. I had the privilege of going to Rural Studio in undergrad and it was interesting seeing all that they had accomplished since then, but also how the ideas and concepts had changed. One thing I noticed about their most recent work is how they have gotten away from the recycled or reusable materials that were studied and used in the Mason's Bend and Rural Studio Headquarter sites. This was kind of a disappointment, but they still tend to research and find cheaper building materials to accommodate the small budget of the projects they are working on.  Seeing some of the buildings, 5 years later, that did use recycled materials, I was surprised to see how well they were holding up. Even-though they might not have looked as nice as some of the most recent Rural Studio projects, these were just as inspiring seeing them still lived in and used.

Expectations

Probably the most meaningful aspect of these two projects is how they both can have an impact on the community.  Whether it is the final product that we produce that is used for years to come, or just the community interaction we have while we are building these projects.  Both can leave a lasting impression on the people.  I feel like it is our goal as designers to develop a relationship with the client and give them something not only that they would want, but something that they can use hopefully for many years.  We must use our ideas and concepts to create an engaging site, but also stay in the realm of what we can do in 6 months.  I think both projects need to be finished before the end of the semester and leave time for us to maybe create some kind of community event at the sites to bring people into what we have created.  This community involvement with the sites could be just as important as the project itself.