Thanks to Lindsay. She has been working her ass off, sanding and sanding and sanding, while Mitch runs around and does his ‘Mitch Jobs.’ 
Please note the dust and lack of proper sanding equipment. Anybody else want to come down and work for free? Honestly, a huge improvement — thanks for the initiative and smile.
Category Archives: Students 2010 UofU
another week, another house
In the past week, the Scorup property has been overun with trailers, coolers, tools and people. Venture Scout Crew 832 has been using the property as a flop pad while they build a new house for Jonah Yellowman near Monument Valley.
dbB students take note: these guys get up early and work all day long! It appears that eating, taking showers and debriefing are the only down time they need. No leisurely mornings at the coffee shop, no late night games of washers, no long academic arguments over design intentions, no monkey business.
13 Venture Scouts and 8 adult facilitators from Pleasant Grove (including a contractor from American Fork) have proven that it is possible to build a home in under a week. Had the realities of the rural experience not intervened, this group would have accomplished their goal — after all, it is hard to build anything on time if your materials don’t show up as scheduled.
I am extremely impressed by the competence, consideration and motivation of this young group. With respect, this is how positive change begins — with a few hardworking people getting dirty. (Then showering in the Scorup House). Thanks — we hope to see you guys again soon.
Testimonial of Studio 23 : Erin
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I had high expectations for Bluff; the program was the reason I applied to graduate school and moved to Utah.
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Design build Bluff inevitably exceeded my expectations and continued to surprise me from the first day of class to the last days of the project. Instead of the largest challenge being construction or design problems, I think it was trying to get 20 designers to agree on solutions. We were handed this project with barely any guidelines, any rules, and we were set free. The extreme lack of restrictions given to us by the design build Bluff staff was intimidating. We set high goals for ourselves and we knew if we did not accomplish them, we were the only ones to blame. We were going to hold ourselves accountable and that made our success that much more powerful. The completion of Studio23 has given me a profound confidence for my abilities as a designer, builder, and leader; an accomplishment no other past academic project has even begun to match.
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There exist a whole other side to the program though, yet another surprise, because my experience as an architecture student is only one small part of the educational adventure that is design build BLUFF. Everything from living in a small town to the cultural immersion within the Navajo Nation to getting to know Studio23’s future residents, Janet Yanito and her family, has opened my life to so many new ideas, social issues, and cultural traditions. Design build Bluff pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to consider the economic, social, spiritual, environmental, and cultural impacts of my decisions. I am perpetually grateful for this opportunity and hope to always live and design by the philosophies taught within design build Bluff.
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BOOM kiva,
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Erin Darby Schoop
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Sketch of Studio 23
Testimonial of Studio 23 – Lindsay
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There were so many “best parts” to this experience in Bluff. One, we got to see our classmates change, grow, and become better friends. And we saw it in ourselves. Two, we saw a project come to complete fruition – something that started as a thought, a sketch, become a reality, which doesn’t happen often in school. Design Build BLUFF is one of very few true collaborative experiences, in school or anywhere. It’s very rare to see a completed thing which has had so many builders, designers, and craftspersons. Even beyond our 2010 Bluff class, visitors, family, and friends also played big role in completing this project. One of the more difficult lessons was realizing the beauty in this type of collage instead of focusing on a tight, single-minded design. Seeing the result of twenty different design intentions is really wonderful. The culture and landscape of Bluff is another “best part”. The colors of the cliff faces changed every day, the view of monument valley astounded me every drive home, and the Scorup property was a beautiful combination of serenity and utter chaos. And I think the really important thing is how you leave Bluff – how you will think about foundations differently because you dug them, poured them, and finished them. How you’ll think about details and connections differently because you figured out how to make them work in full scale with real materials; and how you’ll think about clients differently because you worked alongside one, hearing her story while applying native clay plaster to the walls she’ll eventually reside in. And how you’ll think about architecture differently because standing outside in the blowing sand and 90 degree heat while trying to get a gutter to go straight is so much more meaningful as well as enjoyable than drawing another section in CAD.
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Lindsay Neemann
still working…
It’s bonus week, and we’re still working hard. Tomorrow will be a short day so we can take time to enjoy the sunshine and river.
Colorado University students joined us at the Scorup property on Tuesday, they have spent the week touring Bluff, interviewing potential clients, and visiting previous projects. We’ve enjoyed the time getting to know the next Bluff group and passing on our infinite wisdom. INFINITE. Like, how to turn on the stove; How to avoid the morning breakfast rush; How to get the dogs to stop bothering you; Where to find food in Bluff; Where to find the sweet hiking & camping spots in Bluff.
AND… what happens when Mitch spends too much time with a group of people in one semester.
safety first!
Several projects in progress, coming along slowly but surely.
studio sink, done.
gutters, done!
water catchment system, almost complete
prepping kitchen shelves
kitchen shelving, complete!
stove & hearth (done! pictures to come)
Two more “last days” to come, with lots of small things to complete. Final product… coming soon!
Lindsay (and sometimes Trent)
sinks. stains. & seats.
its extra credit week down in bluff and we are starting out with a small group.
the house is so close to being done.
first on the to-do list – another coat of stain on the concrete floors
finish the plumbing. the sink and toilet are working in the bathroom!
still working on the kitchen sink and counter backsplash.
we also built and installed a bench for the bump-in of the studio.
in general, we are just enjoying our last days of Bluff.
-erin & lindsay
photos of the details and the materials
Shadow of shutter
Bathtub faucet
bump out window
Stair
Niche
Our extra week started
We still have a little bit works to do, 6 students came back to Bluff and will stay 10 more days to do the works. And 8 more students will come back soon.
It’s time to leave.
Dbb 2010 program is over.
This is how we left from Bluff.
With so much luggage and so many memories…
Exterior Final Touch……….Sliding Shutters
