We all headed into week three knowing that we would be ramping up the pace and coming up with and refining a design. Initially the goal was to have our final footprint marked out by Friday so that the foundation could be excavated, however, this timeline has changed due to delays with permits. Instead our structure will be built near the final site and will be lifted into place on a foundation which will be dug or driven in at a later time. This however, was all still unknown at the start of the week so we dove right into a week filled with designing, refining and combining models!

On Monday we presented our individual mass models that we made the previous week. Everyone came with three or more potential masses that explored various concepts and showed how various forms could be situated in the context of the site. After this exercise we split off into pairs to capture one or more of the overarching concepts that arose from the massing models. Examples of these concepts are curvilinearity, undulations, and functionality. We were also introduced to a new project: the snowstake. The client is Sugarbush, a local ski mountain who needs new snow stakes for their upcoming season that are used to determine the snowfall each day. While the final product should be functional, the project also provides a unique opportunity to include fun design and detail which will be able to be viewed by anyone as the stakes are streamed with a live cam so people at home can check snow depth.

As we continue to progress with the design, being able to effectively communicate though drawings is becoming more critical. Tuesday marked the beginning of our learning of drafting. We began the day by measuring one of the cabins on campus, the Madbush, before getting introduced to drafting techniques and drawing the structure in plan and elevations. While measuring a finished building and then drawing it may sound counterintuitive, this exercise allowed for a simplified introduction to the connection between drawings and a realized project as well as getting us all to think analytically about building structure and details!

What better way to start the day than with a team building exercise. Wednesday was kicked off with a full class human knot and (k)not to toot our own horn but, we elegantly and quickly untangled ourselves! After that we presented the models that we had created in pairs before combining our pairs to form two groups of four to develop the next iterations. Instead of developing a breadth of concepts and variations we now began to hone in on the aspects of our classes many variants that we would like to have carry through to the final design. Additionally we learned about programming of spaces and used this knowledge to help refine the masses we worked on previously.

Thursday was spent working in our groups of four to further develop our concepts and build models to present on Friday! The day was gorgeous with the leaves starting to turn but warm weather reminding us to soak up these final days of summer. Additionally, we worked on our snowstakes and the half-scale models of them began to appear around the studio. At the end of the work day Clark, a talented Japanese style carpenter from the Mad River Valley came to share his experience with timber framing, his apprenticeship in Japan, and about the precise and beautiful practice of Japanese joinery and framing. Alongside his presentation he also shared a demonstration model with many of the typical joints one would see in a building.

On Friday, the class presented the two models and associated drawings we had been working on before heading out on a field trip to Prickly Mountain. Prickly Mountain is a collection of structures and homes, dating back to the 1960’s when architects experimented with new materials such as plywood and plexiglass. Design build and improvisational architecture continue to evolve on Prickly Mountain which we could see by visiting a range of older and newer homes. In addition to experimenting with building methods and materials, in many ways the movement was also an experiment in community which is highlighted in buildings such as the 5 unit, Dimetridon and the importance of communal outdoor space for residents. I think the most valuable aspect of this visit was getting to see a wide range of projects showcasing what can and also what shouldn’t be done when it comes to constructing durable homes. Many of the homes included wild shapes and applications of materials resulting in playful structures, however we also got to see how these funky shapes struggle with the test of time if they are not well cared for which is important to consider as we continue along the design process.

- Bella Canavan, September 22nd, 2025