Welcome to the Montana State University Farmworker Housing Studio
This blog is a collection of design research done by graduate students at the Montana State University School of Architecture who are looking at farmworker housing shortages in the Yakima Valley of Washington State. The studio is being assisted by the Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing and the Catholic Charities Housing Services in Yakima, and will include input from the UN-Habitat Housing and Slum Upgrading Branch. The studio prompt is to study the relationships between infrastructure and infill, home and place, mobility and permanence, boundaries and community. What kind of infrastructure is required for different kinds of farmworkers in the USA? Can this infrastructure perform technically, socially, economically, and poetically? What are the tectonics of home, the architecture of economics, and how can design facilitate better living conditions for these communities? In short, how does mass-housing become mass-homing?
Our goal is to take advantage of our academic setting to offer new ideas and approaches to a persistent challenge. With this in mind, we aspire to imagine diverse approaches to affordable farmworker housing that perform optimally for its users' diverse values, interests and desires. We welcome your feedback so please leave comments, suggestions and ideas.
For direct questions or comments please contact David Fortin at david.fortin@montana.edu or at 406-994-7579.
Hi Kelsey,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your Final Project with me. This is quite an impressive collection of your work. Nice job!
Some questions, referring to the Final Project Section (16 drawings). On Slide 6 it shows 8 units. What is the square footage of a unit? What is the estimated cost per square foot to construct the living units (not including the land or the landscaping or the community center)? Will the flexible walls touch both the ceiling and floor? If so, how will they be attached? Do you envision that the occupants will be moving the flexible walls while they live in the unit? Are the closets (I think that's what they are) freestanding structures in the bedrooms?
On Slide 7 what's the interior height (floor to ceiling) along the sloping portion of the roof?
Wishing you another successful semester and good luck on your Finals.
Frank