Small buildings have always had a particular appeal. Micro works of architecture inspire an enduring charm that exceeds their function, even if that function is to be a pleasing decoration in the landscape. There are a variety of reasons for our infatuation with little forms. The miniaturization of architecture reduces it to a human scale with which we can interact more readily. We are also drawn by the intricacy of their conception and detail by the fact that smaller buildings usually possess a more tactile quality than constructions of a larger scale. The concise purpose of these structures; that they address a single function, simple use, or even a purely aesthetic aim, makes them intellectually as well as physically accessible.
This Spring STUDIO V will focus on architecture and tectonics, particularly the relationship between design and building. This Spring the studio is devoted to the execution of one project- researching and designing for a community garden site in the North Central community in downtown Charleston, as well as fabricating, and installing a shade structure for the site. We will be working closely with members of the community, the non-profit Enough Pie, the local First African Evangelical Christian Church, and the John L. Dart Public Library. We will also work closely with the City of Charleston and it’s building department as well as with local architects and engineers.