June 2015: Nomadic Dwelling

Eight applicants selected from the open call will work directly with professional fabricators, architects, digital specialists, and educators exposing the participants to emerging design, computation, fabrication, and construction practices in the field of architecture.  The goal of the studio is to craft a structure that celebrates the uniqueness of the farm while utilizing local materials.  The final structure will be achieved through both analogue and digital techniques allowing for new discoveries in form-finding and performance based architecture.

During the studio participants will work in an 1860s house on a 300 acre farm, and live in the neighboring village.  Participants will engage in all aspects of the project realization including iterative design sessions, focused discussions, group presentations and technical investigations into full-scale prototypes.  The studio will conclude with participants presenting the completed house to the local community and taking it on the road to another site location.

+FARM June STUDIO – nomadic dwelling

+FARM brings together a wide range of professionals (with specific and unique skills) to work directly with the participants during the studio.  The studio will progress from introductory to more advanced working sessions with technical content to address issues of digital design, materiality, component types, digital fabrication, and mobile structures.  Participants will Prototypes will be constructed to test performance while simultaneously investigating the quality of the habitable space.  Participants will work together as a team for the entire design, fabrication, and construction process and will share responsibilities in building the house from ground up.

Utilizing a variety of tools participants will receive individualized training.  With specific theme focus, each studio will begin with intermediate level digital workshops on generative design paired with fabrication training to enable all participants to work digitally and to build test prototypes including the final house.

Project Focus

• Craft: Woodworking (Joinery, Blocking), Metal Fabrication (Pneumatically Powered Shear, Inverter Plasma Cutting, Hydraulic Press Brake Humping).
• Digital Design + Fabrication: Fabrication (SolidWorks), Parametric Design (Grasshopper),and Modeling (Rhino + Rhinonest).
• Construction: Fundamentals (Woodworking, Concrete, Advanced Carpentry), Metal Tooling (Tab/ Bolt Connecting), Electrical (Basic Lighting).

Project Team

Joseph Vidich is an architectural designer and educator based in New York City. He is a partner and founder of Kin & Company, LLC, an architectural design, fabrication and consultancy practice in Brooklyn, NY. Joseph is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation where he teaches an advanced course in digital fabrication and representation. He is also an Adjunct Lecturer at City University of New York, College of Technology where he teaches a 3rd year studio course focusing on design development, construction drawings and digital fabrication. Joseph has worked professionally for Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects and Weiss/Manfredi Architects.   Kin & Company: http://blog.kinandcompany.com/

Artist, Architect, and Writer. Trained at the Cooper Union and Architectural Association Matei teaches and works in New York City. https://matei23.wordpress.com/

Valerie Arthur is a designer, artist, and performer based in Toronto. She is a graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture and a designer at Suulin Architects. Her work bridges installation and contemporary performance - using digital design tools to document and fabricate magnified spaces and aerial/acrobatic performance to inhabit them.

Founder Tim Brewster started T&T Welding in 1996, and has specialized in structural custom welding. Located in Silver Creek, NY, his facility is an American Welding Society certified shop and only utilizes steel purchased in North America. Tim Brewster worked directly with the +FARM Winter Studio 2014, and was a vital component to the success of the project.   T&T Welding

William Haskas is the Founder and Principle of LuStudio an emerging design collaborative based in Brooklyn, NY.  He specializes in material performance, emergent design technologies and digital fabrication.  His studio is currently working on a 16acre industrial re-development, and Cycling Bridge in Buffalo, New York.  Recent collaborations include work with Kelley Walker, and Alpi. William is currently teaching at Parsons the New School of Design in the School of Constructed Environments, and New York City College of Technology.  In 2011 he formed +FARM.

 

The Studio: Hall House Farm in Perrysburg, NY

The site is located on a 300 acre cattle and sheep farm.

Requirements

Applicants must be enrolled or have successfully completed at least one year of education at the university level or school of higher education, and we recommend that students not be out of school more than 10 years.  Selections will be made based on the applicant’s previous work and presentation skills within the realm of art, architecture, design, and fabrication.  Knowledge in architecture or construction is not required for this workshop. +FARM encourages a diversity of participants, as their unique experience will add to the complex equation of design.

Fees

The June Nomad Studio is $1435 for each individual.  This must be paid in advance of the workshop, and the Fee Includes:

- Digital Instruction: Rhino Intermediate and Advanced Levels.  Grasshopper Beginner and Intermediate Levels.
- Fabrication Instruction: Training Sessions include Metal Crafting, Wood Working and Advanced Wood Crafting.
- Construction Instruction: Fundamentals and Metal Tooling with experts in the field.
- Materials: All Materials included to build the final project.

          – Please note lodging, meals, and art supplies are not included in the fee.
          – Participants may stay at a local inn and receive a group rate of $20 per night.
          – Participants may customize their meals by cooking at the farm or ordering from a local restaurant.

+FARM will provide transportation to and from the site each day.

Schedule

 Studio Friday June 6th – sunday June 14th

 Studio Schedule

+FARM and Beyond

+FARM will conclude with a community celebration to showcase the built structure. You will prepare a presentation to the guests and after the celebration we will take the mobile house on the road to a new location.  The celebration will be continued at the new location.