Rural Studio (Postponed until further notice)
Rural Studio is an architectural program of Auburn University in Newburn, Alabama.
Deep Dives
Deep Dives are free site visits to selected nonprofit organizations that serve critical socioeconomic needs in Alabama. The CEO describes the work of the organization, its history, challenges, and needs. A tour of the facility provides a deeper understanding. Participants may optionally use a provided checklist to make observations and discuss what they observed and learned. Recommendations can be sent to the CEO. This Deep Dive is limited to 20 participants. Please send an email to reserve your seat and you will receive a confirmation by reply email: Email Raymond Osbun.
The Organization
Rural Studio is an off-campus design-build program part of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture of Auburn University. The program, established in 1993 by D.K. Ruth and Samuel Mockbee, gives architecture students a hands-on educational experience while assisting under-resourced communities of West Alabama’s Black Belt. The Rural Studio philosophy suggests that everyone, both rich and poor, deserves the benefit of good design. In its initial years, the Studio became known for establishing an ethos of recycling, reusing, and remaking. In 2001, after the passing of Samuel Mockbee, Andrew Freear succeeded him as director. To fulfill this ethic, the Studio has expanded the breadth and scope of its work to address community need. Projects have become multi-year, multi-phase efforts across five counties. The students work within the community to define solutions, fundraise, design and, ultimately, build remarkable projects. The Studio continually questions what should be built, rather than what can be built. To date, Rural Studio has built more than 200 projects and educated more than 1,000 “Citizen Architects.”
The $10 lunch features a fried catfish plate with hushpuppies, slaw, beans, with tea and water. Please note any food restrictions in your email to register.
The Dive Leader
Andrew Freear is Director of Rural Studio. Originally from Yorkshire, England, Freear is the Wiatt Professor and Director of Auburn University’s Rural Studio. After the untimely death of Samuel Mockbee, he became the Director of the Studio in 2002. Freear lives in a small rural community in Hale County, West Alabama, where he has directs a program which questions the conventional education and role of architects. His architecture students have designed and built community buildings, homes and landscape projects for under-resourced local towns and nonprofit organizations. Freear’s role has been as liaison and advocate between local authorities, community partner’s and architecture students in the collaborative realization of projects such as the 40-acre Lions Park, Newbern library and Greensboro Boys and Girls Club, all of which have focused on the health, welfare and education of at-risk youth. The Newbern Volunteer Fire department, Newbern Town hall and Perry County Learning Center have worked to ensure the resilience of public institutions. He has designed and built Rural Studio exhibits across the globe including at the Whitney Biennial, the Sao Paulo Biennal, V&A in London, MOMA NYC and most recently at the Milan Triennale and the Venice Biennale. In 2006 Freear was honored with The Ralph Erskine Award, administered by the Swedish Association of Architects In 2008 he was a Laureate in the second edition of the Global Awards for Sustainable Architecture in Paris and in 2016 he was awarded the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Architecture. Most recently, Freear was part of the 2017 Loeb Fellowship class.
Meet at the headquarters at Morrisette House: 8448 AL HWY 61, Newbern, AL 36765. There is parking on the south side of the property.