Cubist Zoo

First year students at SNP usually design a house as their first project. In order to sidestep both preconceptions and self-conceptions, we proposed another client.

We began with a visit to the zoo. Each student picked a “client” [emus, bears (polar and black), panthers, and turtles were among their choices]. Exercises in observation and description focused on physical aspects of the animal and its movement patterns. The “house” was limited to 10 meter cube, and each student received a common base (an “L” made of masonite) as their site. The program was to accomodate their animal’s daily routine.