HORSE
OUR WORLD
Sean Brunstein, Allison Gomez, Kaleeka Mittal, Mayank Sharma, Lindsey Bruso Brian Carter, Adam Thibodeaux, Justina Zifchock Fall 2022 ARC503/603 3.5-YR MArch
How could we alter our design process to imagine spaces that promote the wellbeing of nonhuman species? The second studio in the 3.5-year master program, addressed this question through the design of a riding school in Buffalo. Horse riding in many cultures has a direct link to human settlement, agriculture, conquest, and settlement. The therapeutic benefits of horse care and riding are well documented and continue to attract the research interests of many different professions. To introduce students to this rich territory of investigation, they were first asked to make full-size models and drawings of horses to develop a better sense of their bodies. They also conducted site visits to several barns in the area to learn about the challenges of caring for horses and the spaces they require.
health. The studio also consulted with local landscape architects and structural engineers, enabling students to network with industry professionals and develop their designs throughout the semester. Drawing a life-size horse positioned students to fully understand the scale and stature of whom they were designing for. Next, they split into teams to create three physical models of a horse using any materials they could find. The collection of drawings
RELATIONS
Students: Faculty: Term: Course: Program:
CULTURE
EXPLORATION
RIGOR
OUR WORK
and models served as inspiration for the students to carry forward. The project site was Father Conway Park, within Buffalo’s First Ward, home to several existing revitalization efforts. Sandwiched between a residential neighborhood and popular restaurants, the park acts as a threshold to the Buffalo River and Outer Harbor beyond.
These trips to Gasport, NY, and the Buffalo Riding Center gave students an understanding of the potential effects riding centers have on communities: physical activity and increased mental Students working amidst horses. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
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