0913+New+Material

Included below are rewrites for previous assignments, due to a change in project focus.

__Case Statement - Perspective Option__ This project is and attempt to design the daily spaces of a child (and to a lesser extent his family) - a small world consisting of home(s), school, community center, and play space. Good design can drastically improve the lives of those who use it, and newer healthier construction can act as a catalyst for neighborhood change. While recognizing that there are limits to what architecture can and can't do, I hope to improve the living situation of one Englewood family (in particular that family's children). It may be beyond the ability of design to cure al of Englewood's social ills, but I can start to improve the neighborhood by helping one family at a time. I am interested in totally designed environments, for example the houses of Henry Van de Velde and Victor Horta, and the Prairie style. I wish to apply the idea of total design (all parts, no matter how small, contribute to and magnify the whole) and apply them to not (just) a house but to a //life// - to design as many of a person's spaces as I can. In order to tie into my work this semester (AKA Phase I - School) and for simplicity's sake, I've chosen to focus on a child. Since no one and especially not an elementary school student, is truly isolated, I will include the child's family, friends, etc. in my design decisions; however, my main focus will be on improving the community through helping the child. In order to respect the existing fabric of Englewood, any sites I choose will be vacant, abandoned, or dilapidated beyond usefulness.

__Goals__ - To improve the daily life of a child through design - To provide a healthy and sustainable home for the child's family - To give the child a safe and welcoming place to play - To act as a catalyst for neighborhood change - To improve the lives of the many (family) through improving the lives of the one (child) - To integrate the disparate spaces used by the child into a wholly designed unit - To allow space for spontaneous interaction between the smaller community of the child and the larger communities of the neighborhood and city

__Design responses__ - To respect the ultra local style and (if appropriate) incorporate it into the total design - To use basophilic principles in the creation of physically and mentally healthy spaces - To maintain low building costs for all elements - To use **appropriate** sustainable strategies - To use texture and volume to create interesting spaces - To create flexible spaces that adapt to the changing needs of the child and his family

__Guiding principles__ - The school will be conceptually open even when physically enclosed. It is a space //for// the neighborhood and //of// it, not apart or removed. Decisions of scale will be based on the children who use the space and on Montessori principles - School buildings integrated into the landscape in such a way that outdoor space is well-utilized in warm months and adds to the site's beauty year-round - **Appropriate** sustainable strategies and cost-saving measures will be used but will not be allowed to detract from the building - School and community center will be integrated so that no building is single-purpose or limited-use - Program of community center will be flexible so as to change with the neighborhood or allow for repurposing or school expansion of the school. - Housing will be responsive to the **entire** family, and flexible to accommodate changing situations (ex. growing children, grandparents moving in, new babies) - Indoor and outdoor spaces will be integrated to provide year-round beauty, comfort, and usability - Design will respect financial realities - low first cost, low maintenance costs, and high retention of value - The design will be sensitive to any specific cultural needs of the family

__Project Stakeholders__ NOTE: Until I have an actual family to work with, I will be using the fictional Smith family. I hope to have a real family within the next few weeks.

1. Child (John Smith) - primary user of all spaces, catalyst for project 2. Family (parents Richard and Angela Smith, sisters Mary and Kate Smith, grandmother Angela Jones) - all are primary users of house, sisters are primary users of school, parents are financial backers for house project(s) 3. Classmates & friends - primary users of school, community center, and play space; similar but not identical needs to John Smith. Differing viewpoints and needs. 4. Social community - secondary users of community center & play space. Group includes parents, children, and non-parent adults. 5. Community organizers (ex. Thom Hale + Kate Winston with Montessori School of Englewood) - financial backers for school and community center, program developers, answer to city re: effectiveness of programs & accountability 6. CPS - responsible for educational content & administration of school

NOTES: I'm still a bit confused on what you're looking for re: goals vs. design responses vs. guiding principles - can we go through this list when we meet in person?

Overall I'm a lot happier with how this project is shaping up. I realize I'm somewhat behind in work for this class, but hope that by struggling with things now the project will proceed smoother later in the semester/year.

Any suggestions on how to find a family? I'm looking for: - At least one elementary-school child who enjoys playing outdoors - Siblings of any age who live at home - At least one parent as primary caregiver - Preferably members of the extended family live with the children (grandparents, uncles, etc.) - Willing to allow me to interview them about their own ideas - Willing to speak about their community hopes and concerns - Willing to allow me to interview all their children (including children who don't live at home) - In the case of separated families, I would prefer the ability to interview the parent who doesn't live at home. In the case of joint-custody divorced parents, I would definitely need to interview both parents as I would be designing both of the child's homes.