LT Ranch Summer Residencies 2012 the proof edition

LT ranch residencies summer 2012 the proof edition

2009 anna parfirenko yi-chuan lui yu-ting wang w/ ken wilder

2011 ami changda dayea georgina hyunsuk lewis sofia spyros sylvia

kanki wu kim walker park barton anastasiou anastasiou yebing yuan

w/ rob nice

2012 chris enzo keun hye john mamo marcus max mo neda patrick paresh recy sam

humphrey guida lee wo min kang juelin he boyle thomson ja kahooker yi-wei chen parmar shao feng LO ming shum

w/ emma hunter & stasys skliaustis

LT ranch summer sessions These summer sessions at the Ranch attempt to enable a spontaneous environment of making and being. They are run as a collaborative event with Canterbury School of Architecture and Chelsea College of Art&Design MA Interior & Spatial Design. There is little expectation except to respond to a place and in so doing adding to its story: it is rural not easy to live in the well may run dry the loo has no flush handle there is no internet connection it is an unpredictable place it is also a private space for 50 weeks dreaming though during these summer sessions it is public: wake-ful this year the public week was wide awake with near insomnia of anticipation

2012 16- sometimes 19 temporary residents whistled and sawed there way to a full orchestral movement of spatial languages; measured and/or drawn, inventing processes, acting directly, re-appropriating and adjusting through gesture. Durations ranging from intended slowness to accelerating, still to nothing reverberated throughout the week.

Playful, considered, experimental, negotiated, performed, spontaneous. … if it hadn’t rained ... we would not have needed the canopy with gothic skylights ... … if their had been no wind ... their would have been 4 tents ... … if we didn’t have the 2 no. ¾” – 1 meter long hand drills, the fixing details would have been nailed and screwed. … if we didn’t have silence ... there would be no grafted furniture amongst the trees in the orchard. … if Ken, Yu-Ting, Yi-Chuan and Anna had not built the drunken table back in 2009, Sofia & Lewis would not have made the flexible chessboard to drape over it in 2011, Min would not have carved the apple eating bear to patrol it in 2012.

Materials are mostly found or re-appropriated from the raw atoms which exist on the site. Prototypes are tested, temporary structures constructed, techniques discussed, enabling encouraged. The social/collaborative nature of this remote site, the landscape and weather, sky and ground re-negotiates the spontenaity of the everyday.

This publication attempts to capture this swift and intense week, the before, the during and the meanwhile. kristina kotov proof edition compiled at the Ranch Space, Lithuania & London via Skype August 2012

traveling & arriving

walking We crossed the bridge (foundations: Rob & Changda, surface: Georgina, Ami, ?,? 2011), and passed the waiting area for the sauna (Ami, Georgina, Hyunsuk, 2011) and entered the hinterland of the hamlet. Inevitably the description was contextual. Reading the land, both natural and man-made of previous inhabitants: edges, histories of expression, context of land reform, expectation and future plans. The meadow was in full bloom, the clouds had parted long enough for a dry walk under a rapidly moving sky.

maintenance check: outdoor shower (2011) w/ privacy and adjusted door (2012) ‘On our arrival to the ranch in Lithuania we discovered how we would be living in such rural terrain with the main source of water coming from the two wells on site. The two wells were distinguished clearly with the particular awareness that clean water had to be used sparingly (as we needed enough water to last the 15 people on site for one whole week). Despite this concern, the group was fond of having practical products to help benefit our living experience.

Therefore we set out on renovating a shower with water being pumped from the wells. Water was pumped through hosepipes which allowed a storage of water to be filled in a large black box. This box was placed above the shower on a near by tree to allow the sunshine to warm the water providing us with a warm and refreshing shower...’ (PP) Enzo

Paresh

breakfast The first breakfast was punctuated by the interrmitant threat of rain. No sooner had we sat down and the rains came. A temporary shelter was needed.

Clean-up, dishwashing, fire-starting rotas were established and negotiated, menus for evening meals planned and ingredient requirements suggested for the shopping expedition.

maintenance check cont’d: wash hand basin ‘... Alongside this shower, we constructed a sink with a large surface area near by our barn. This was positioned carefully near the toilet, barn and shower.

Working on the site encouraged us to work with existing materials and the wood which surrounded us all. Therefore we used long circular wooden beams to construct a triangular support where one end was tied carefully together and the other was loose to be positioned sturdily. Whilst searching around the site we found a basin sink which was in need of a clean. This was used as the focal point of the design, with the only exception being the handle for the sink being bought by local neighbours*. An old wooden door as the platform for the sink to sit in flush. This wooden platform was secured on the triangular beams at a height to allow all people of various heights to use the sink comfortably. A connected was bought to the water feeding the shower to flow the water to the sink. The hosepipe was carefully secured at a slope around the barn to feed to the sink which worked perfectly. The sink proved a success as it allowed all of us water to wash our hands, brush our teeth including other benefits to living in the rural and beautiful lifestyle. ‘ (PP) *story of the taps version 2: the taps were salvaged by Niall Healy (barn_1 roof, 2008) from a flat in the Monteverdi Building (Richard Rogers) at Battersea and brought over by the man-with-the van from Morrison’s, Stratford car park in 2009.

sofas Sketched out by Max, this construction had as much to do with the group’s variety of ergonomic requirements as it did with comfort whilst eating and reading, relaxing. It ‘augmented’ the previous low series of benches (Summer Session 2009)., though left the king’s throne in place.

The tool of choice was 3/4” (I think) 1m long handrills brought from Kent, so no screws or nails were used.

By the time the shelters were completed it had stopped raining, but then the sun cast a good shadow and provided shade and an ‘in case’ condition. this is a collberative project with Chris, Enzo, Paresh, Sam and others...

(stonehenge)

max

drying lines Paresh & Enzo

loo signage Marcus

lunch

canopy ‘This summer workshop becomes a fantastic opportunity for me to build something freely and naturally. I went there with a totally relax mode and an empty mind: there is no goals, no aims and no concepts. On the second day I noticed that the temporary shelter we made is not right so I started to think about how we want to use it and how the nature treats it. The ideas came up with the observation, but the idea is just a seed: the site, the materials I found and the technique I chose helped the idea growing. This is what I think about architecture as well.’ (RS)

Recy

grafted landscape_1 Patrick came with this project from London. Being part of his MA work in progress, he took the opportunity to test ideas in the landscape available. This is in two parts, one actually grafting a branch/shelf hybrid piece of furniture in the orchard ‘playground’ site. The other is a carefully be-jeweled crown wrapping another apple tree, planted with local meadow flowers. Both may ‘take’, time will tell. He has requested an update in 5 years time.

patrick

grafted landscape_2

sculptural pieces Prior to traveling several ideas were passed around, one being to bring a favorite tool.

Max brought his 1m long hand drills, Emma brought a set of carving tools, Sam brought an app for his iPhone...

These took residence at the drunken table.

Min’s cup, ashtray, tea kettle... and the apple eating bear...these 2 sculptures remain at the site

shelves for the meanwhile I want to leave my trace in Lithuania. And also I want to make something about combination, mixing different materials from artificial things and nature, so I choose those materials. (KHL)

keun hye

raft, raft-taxi, path segment I did not have any idea about what to make until the third day. The weather became warmer and people were talking about the swimming in the lake. I am unable to swim but I wanted to enjoy the summer lake. So I thought I can make a raft help me float on the lake. The design was more complicated as you look at the image of the sketches, but unfortunately I was sick with my tooth. So it finished at the middle stage. Now it became part of the path in front of the house. Maybe next year it will be useful to the other students? (JH) The raft became a multi-functional vehicle. From its humble beginnings, to a mobile unit as both a taxi and swimming device, to finding its resting place as a segment of Sam’s ‘Path made from Walking’ it incapsulated the mobility of the path in its memory of uses. Its ambition of being a pedal-motorized raft, coming underfoot regardless.

mamo

evenings

table ‘The campfire had been the main area where we, as a group, ate dinner during the trip. However, with no space to put utensils and plates, there was an issue of serving and eating. The prime function of the buffet table was to accommodate these problems whilst also providing space underneath for firewood to be stored.

The base of the table was designed to allow firewood to ‘breathe’ which consisted of planks of wood that were stacked at alternate intervals. These ‘gaps’ between the wood also began to provide space for small objects including cups and utensils to be stored when the table was fully occupied.

This multipurpose table allowed us to eat more comfortably especially during the night. ‘ (JMK)

min

hammock(s) ‘The hammock idea was brought about by the lack of actual beds in the barn. 4 people where on inflatable mattresses so I thought a hammock would be a fun way giving them a comfy bed (also one that could be packed up and stored easily). I only had time to produce one so at least i made a nice relaxing place to lay down (which is also something that was needed when we arrived)’ (MB) There were a series of prototypes tested for the hammocks. Fabric patterns were cut and tailored, various second hand prints were purchased at the second hand shop for its strength of weave, as well as pattern of the print. Comfort and warmth of sleeping in it for longer durations, proved not as desirable, and in the end joined the playground in the orchard. Company there now includes Patrick’s shelf-graft, Dayea’s chaise lounge (2011) and swing, as well as her ‘roboti’ observing from his tree perch.

Marcus

‘in transit’ projects these next few projects were intended to return to London.

a small sliding door box with coasters. The materials were carefully chosen, coasters remade for long lasting qualities several times.

neda

a wooden rucksack

mo

chris

...and the three bears

paths are made by walking: ‘Paths are made by walking is a work done with the Participatory Design Methodology, which is the research subject in my MA. The main intention behind this work was to provide a platform for the participants to express themselves. I let each of the participants to design and make one section of the footpath between the existing barn and the house. They had the design freedom in terms of materials, form and patterns, but at the same time, they needed to negotiate between each others about the junction details and leveling between each parts. This work focuses on representation of individuals as well as showing the possibilities of designing collectively.’ (SL) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kfCI4YFBi0

sam

Thank-you to Emma Hunter for her constant enthusiasm and perceptive support before during and still ongoing from the workshop. Stasys Skliaustis, Martynas, Monika, Antanas and the rest of the family for their patience, rescue missions and mindful eyes: fresh vegetables and eggs, common sense and availability.

The dinner ladies in Utena, who delivered a daily formidable lunch menu, relayed by special delivery daily to the Ranch: wrapped pots of hot delicious food adjusted to the weather forecast.

Juozas and his steel workshop, who made Recy’s wind-up wheel possible.

Neda Kahooker for her invaluable help with this publication effort, and marit.

All images have been selected from an online shared archive.

A special acknowledgement to both UAL Chelsea MA Interior & Spatial Design, Course Leader Ken Wilder and UCA– Canterbury School of Architecture, Head of School Allan Atlee for supporting this endeavor.

(KK)