CreatingaCultureSpecific ArchitecturalLanguage
RodneyshaRuffin
RodneyshaRuffin
InitialLineofInquiry
SumterCountyGainesville,SumterCounty,AL
LargerContext
Alabama’s“BlackBelt”
ALPoliticalMap–PresidentialElection 2020
AnnualGrossSalaryby County
American“BlackBelt”
Uniontown,AL
ImageSource:https://www.theguardian.com/usnews/2019/apr/15/were-not-a-dump-pooralabama-towns-struggle-under-the-stench-of-toxiclandfills
CentralWestAlabamaArchitecture
Uniontown,AL LowndesCounty,AL
ImageSource: https://www.planetizen.com/news/2020/11/11127 4-legacy-structural-poverty-alabama
ImageSource:https://www.theguardian.com/usnews/2019/apr/15/were-not-a-dump-pooralabama-towns-struggle-under-the-stench-of-toxiclandfills
OccupationBreakdown–Gainesville,AL HealthcareProvider–Gainesville,AL
WhatexactlyisthecultureinGainesville?
FAMILY (IMMEDIATE+ EXTENDED) EVENTS
COMMUNAL + VILLAGE-LIKE ATMOSPHERE
FAITH AGRICULTURAL TOWN
RURAL
Design Problem Mapping
DesignProblemStatement
Thereisnoarchitecturallanguagethatisculturally specifictoAfricanAmericanslivinginGainesville, Alabama.
ArchitectureDesign
ProblemStatement:
Thereisnoarchitectural languagethatisculturally specifictoAfricanAmericans livinginGainesville, Alabama.
Reason1:Thehomecanbe describedasthecenterof Gainesvilleculture–it’sthepillar ofthecommunityandwhere fellowshiptakesplacewhetherit’s insidethehomeoroutside.
EvidenceforR1:Homesarenot thoughtofasjustfourwallswitha roofandfoundationbutasafamily heirloomthat’softenpasseddown fromonegenerationtothenext.
NeedsandResearch
Question:
HowdoIcreatean architecturallanguagethat’s representativeoftheAfrican Americanexperience?
ClaimStatement: Iproposethatanarchitectural languageculturallyspecificto contemporaryAfricanAmericans inGainesvillecanbeachievedby designinghomesthatsupportand addressthecurrentwayofliving yetcelebratesandpreservesparts ofGainesvilleculture.
Reason2:Designingtheinterior spacesofthehomeallowsfor needstobemetbasedoffspecific humanactivity.
EvidenceforR2:Forthecultureof Gainesville,thekitchenisdeemed astheheartofthehouse.It’snot justsomewherewheremom cooksandtheneveryoneeats.It’s whereconversationstakeplace, wherethewomenteachtheir daughtersandnieceshowto cook,anditservesananchorfor entertainingfamilyandfriends.
Reason3:Anemphasismustbe placedontheexteriorspaces becausethehumanactivitythat takesplacewithinthehomeoften overflowsintothebackyardorthe actionstartedinthebackyardand madeitswayintothekitchen, livingroom,ordiningroom
EvidenceforR3:Thetransitional spacesbetweentheoutdoorsand indoorslendthemselvesto becomingthe’fourthwall’thatcan bebroken–oncebrokenthese spacescanmakethetwosectors feellikeonecohesivespace
DesignProblemVisualization
Currentdesigndoesn’t allowforcook+ entertaincombo
Smallwindow= notalotof naturallight
Smallporch; doesn’tfeellike anextensionof home
Kitcheninsufficient accommodatemultiple peoplecooking
Living&entertainingspace notsufficientforlarge gatherings
Privatesleeping areasareoften designedsmall
Smallwindow= notalotof naturallight
Notalotof openspaceto hostgatherings
Lackofspace/area thatserveas exterior/interior extension
Livingspacetoo small
Shotgun House Model Trailer Home ModelArchitecturalBackground–Gainesville,AL
ImageSource:https://www.ruralswalabama.org/attraction/gainesville-bankgainesville-al/
ImageSource:https://www.ruralswalabama.org/attraction/themagnolia-home-1845/
ImageSource: https://www.ruralswalabama.org/attraction/gainesville-methodistchurch-gainesville-al/#
What’salreadybeendone/said?
•“…Blackidentityiswrappedupinthe spatialexpressionoftheblack experiencethatistranslatedthrough thesemodesofproductions.”
•RestoringthecultureoftheGullah IslandswhichareinJohn’sIsland, SouthCarolina–haveincluded designingtheextensionofinterior domesticspacestotheexteriorspace oftheyardandthedomestic territorializationofthatspaceto accommodatecommunalspace.
Gooden,Mario.2016.DarkSpace-Architecture,Representation, BlackIdentity.GsappBooks.
OldGainesvilleBank(builtcirca1845) GainesvilleMethodistChurch(built1872) TheMagnoliaHome(builtcirca1845)CaseStudy1: OlaMaePorch
Architect:RuralStudio
Client:OlaMae
Location:Greensboro,AL
Yearofconstruction:2003
Oldermobilehome layoutsdon’tusually includeporch/deck
Designedasa detachableaddition tomobilehome.
Efficientduetothefactit’s relativelywarm6monthsout oftheyearandcanbeusedas anadditionallivingspace.
Connectstheexteriorand interiorspacesviaaporch
ImagesSource:http://ruralstudio.org/project/ole-mae-porch/
LocalDoveWoodusedfor construction
CaseStudy2: AlabamaRibShack
‘Gardens’areculturalin thesensethatwhattakes placeinsideusuallyflows outside
Architect:JamieMitchell
Client:JamieMitchell
Location:Gainesville,AL
Yearofconstruction:2021
Continuationofwood usedforinteriorincluding floors
ImagesSource:https://www.al.com/life/2022/07/a-slice-ofbarbecue-heaven-in-sweet-home-alabama.html
Whatneedstochange?
Formof the building
Colorsusedon exterior
Textures&materials usedonexterior
Textures,ColorPalette, andFurnishingsforthe interior
Additionor manipulationof interiorspaces thatcorrespond tohuman activity
TheClaimStatement
Iproposethatanarchitecturallanguageculturallyspecific toAfricanAmericansinGainesvillecanbecreatedby designinghomesthataddressthecurrentwayofliving yetalsocelebratestheculturefromthepast.
ClaimVisualization
Bedroomsseparatefromthe commonmorepublicspaces withinthehome
TraditionalRanch HomeLayout
Inclusionofporch;porchalso servesasadditionallivingspace
Largekitchen+livingroom openconcept
Multiplespacesthatserveas indoor/outdoortransition spaces
Localmaterialsforconstruction
Reason1: Commemorates thecultureasa whole–history, present,and future.
Inclusionofimportantspacessuchasporches;emphasis onnaturallightandhowthatplaysintoagriculturaltowns
Reason2:
Addresses needsand wantsspecific toGainesville
Largekitchenneededfor cookingasafamily+open concepttobeabletostill interactandentertain
Reason3: Easily replicated
UseofmaterialslocaltoGainesville thatcanbeusedinconstruction
CharetteBrief+Results
Focus:
Explorethevarietyofspatial organizationlayoutsthatcan takeplacewhendesigninga residentialhomeforrural townsinAlabama.
Residencesshouldcreate addressthewayoflivingas itrelatestoAfrican Americanfamilies.Themain questionhereis:“Doesthe spaceandformpresented supportthelifestyleof AfricanAmericanslivingin Gainesville?”.
ResearchPlan
Phase1:Phase2:Phase3:
Symbolism Needs& Characteristics
Phase4
ReplicationLanguage
Total:2weeksTotal:2weeksTotal:2weeksTotal:2weeks
Total:8weeks