And Brainstorming And Then Eating The Cake Too. Oh my goodness. Last weekend was one the most amazing design-build adventures I’ve ever been a part of. Mind you, it was cake and we didn’t get to do any sort of ‘built’ imagining of possibility on the cake itself but: 1.The number of people who participated […]
Install recumbent bicycle benches at CAP Metro Bus stops? Outdoor stair climbers on Congress Ave.? In-ground trampolines on Guadalupe? Criss-crossing balance beams on 2nd Street? Concrete ping pong tables at intersections throughout town? Climbing boulders on East 5th Street? Let’s face it, many of you would consider me quite out of my mind if I […]
Can we empower citizens by making the inordinately complicated rules and processes surrounding such everyday things as housing and street vending visually more clear?
From the Public Workshop project archive: In 1976, a major earthquake devastated much of Guatemala. Fred Cuny, an American disaster relief expert, tried something novel in the world of disaster relief: instead of building new houses for and giving them to displaced Guatemalans, he and his staff trained them to build their own. They trained the Guatemalans to build earthquake-resistant houses and then helped these new master builders train others in villages throughout the region. After this humanitarian crisis had passed, much to the horror of Fred Cuny and his team, these master builders were murdered or forced to leave Guatemala by the government. These master builders were seen as community leaders and a threat to the dictatorial power structure because not only were they helping build homes, but by sharing their knowledge they were helping build stronger communities. The carpenters were valuable to their communities. Save for people such as Sambo Mockbee, Maurice Cox, or Brian Bell can we say the same of architects?
The Charter High School for Architecture and Design (CHAD) in Philadelphia was opened in 1999 with the goal of using architecture and design to facilitate more effective learning of traditional subjects, and to encourage a greater awareness of good design and the built environment. In his capacity as the Director of Design, Alex Gilliam (Director of Public Workshop) assembled the Department, wrote the Design Department Curriculum, served as lead Department Chair for the school and designed projects, and events that set up a general framework for school’s multidisciplinary learning approach. These projects and events focused on learning through doing, designing and making.
Can design project based around Alfred Hitchcock's classic, 'The Birds' lead to tremendous academic achievement from underperforming children? Can designing for a red breasted sapsucker and a frazzled couple from Bodega Bay lead to great things?
Although Public Workshop may not make it to all of the following conferences, these are certainly events we're keeping our eye on and think you should too.
From the Public Workshop vault, by Alex Gilliam, May 2008. 5 Steps for Rebuilding the Profession of Architecture In 1976, a major earthquake devastated much of Guatemala. Fred Cuny, an American disaster relief expert, tried something novel in the world of disaster relief: instead of building new houses for and giving them to displaced Guatemalans, […]
Event: Chicago K-12 Design Educator Potluck Presentation: You Can Change Your City by Alex Gilliam of Public Workshop Date: Thursday February 4th from 6.30-8.00 pm-ish Location: Landon Bone Baker Architects, 734 N Milwaukee Ave. Here’s why you shouldn’t miss it: Normally Public Workshop wouldn’t trumpet giving a presentation at a relatively informal event but ladies and gents, […]
From Public Workshop’s Project Archives: Project: The Sunshine School, The Movie! Location:Newbern, AL Project Director: Alex Gilliam Year: 2004 Yep, the export quality from this movie I made many, many years ago leaves a lot to be desired but it does a knock up job conveying the incredible spirit of the project and the students […]
Local governments are the largest industry in the world without an r + d function. What happens if you create an informal r + d unit for a city, bringing together a carefully chosen group of people who are doing great but very different things in the world to re-imagine issues of civic importance where […]
February 22, 2010
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