Sukkah PDX | Rooted Lightness

SUKKAH PDX

WINNING PROPOSAL & INSTALLATION DREW HASTINGS drewwhastings@gmail.com 503.502.7953

Overview

Allied Works master plan detailed “During thedeveloped week of aSukkot, the and parking design proposals for a new animation facility lot at the Oregon Jewish Museum willfor bea major film and animation studio in Los Angeles, Califortransformed to accommodate a curated nia. The project involved extensive research into the collection unique the sukkahs, created history of theofcompany, film production process by from around as thewell country.

The and andartists animation techniques, as site planning analysis studio’s Glendale and Burbank camsukkah of isthe a temporary dwelling, traditionally puses. erected each fall in observance of the

Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Explicitly fragile This comprehensive approach is intended to provide and these shelters pose ancient morepermeable, than just needed square footage, but rather a questions of protection and enclosure, dynamic workspace that is uniquely attuned to of the company’s needs, and builds upon culture and transience, displacement anditsdomestic creative potential. space that remain highly relevant in the 21st century. Our sukkahs provide contemporary The Burbank proposal built upon the character and responses thecampus. traditional challenges of legacy of the to main A number of siting and sukkah options design.were explored that would help recremassing

ate the sense of community and connection to the landscape.

Onceserve a building andpoint program The sukkahs as asite focal fororgania zation were identified through this process, a design week-long series of events that seek to concept was developed to establish the structure, place thisand ancient holiday for within a modern materials, spatial qualities the new facility. Alcontext byproposal encouraging awareness lied Works’ providesnew a range of flexible workspace for animators questions and support that staff at all scales, of contemporary relate to as well as community spaces and shared resources homelessness, food access, and resourceincluding an enclosed central atrium, full-scale theater, sustainability.” screening rooms, garden and fitness center.

-The Oregon Jewish Museum

Location Location Portland, Oregon Status Status Design Competition, Winning Proposal, 2012 Installation, Sep.\Oct. 2012 Project Categories Jury Installation, Design-Build, Small Scale Oregon Jewish Museum, Pacific Jury Northwest College of Art, Oregon College of Art and Craft Jewish Museum, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Scope Oregon College of Art and Craft Proposal, Construction Scope Project Team Proposal, Construction Drew Hastings, Erin Hastings, Project Team Jessica Snyder Jessica Snyder, Drew Hastings, Erin Hastings Area 160 Areasf 180 sf Budget $1000 Budget $1000

Rooted | Lightness

The story of the sukkah is a story of juxtaposition between tradition and temporariness— two things that by their very nature seem contradictory. The sukkah commemorates the period when the Israelites were wandering the desert living in temporary dwellings after their exodus from Egypt. Its origin is biblical in nature, but its form is fleeting, as any one sukkah lasts only one week. Thus, the sukkah symbolizes the historical homelessness and transience of the Jewish people, while at the same time remaining deeply rooted in history and ritual.

In conceiving of our design, we looked to tradition and temporariness, these two competing yet compelling forces. The form of our sukkah is motivated by tradition; the whale or Leviathan, which tradition says can be used as the sukkah’s walls. The Talmud teaches that when the messiah comes and the Jews return to Jerusalem, that a Leviathan should be killed and its skin should be used to make a Sukkah. (Bava Basra 74b, 75a).

The materials are motivated by temporariness: they are light, low tech, simple, and natural. These materials are modern, yet natural, creating new tradition, while celebrating and remembering the homelessness of the Israelites who fled Egypt.

Proposal

Proposal

13’-0”

15’-0”

Construction

Installation

Installation