Design/build and a van: an alternative (outlaw) practice

Abstract

The relationship between craft and architecture is intrinsic but not always in balance. This work encapsulates the struggle to understand the disparate parts of designing and building and my relationship to the built environment as an intern architect. This thesis focuses on testing a design/build methodology for the purpose of converting a 1994 GMC van into my own future mobile studio, workshop, and home. Employing methods of certainty and risk as a base approach to making, I try to tap into my inner maker, recognizing that by no means am I a skilled craftsman or seasoned builder. The methodology used further includes research into the history of craft in architecture and the practical application of design/build using new and repurposed materials. The thesis explores the practice of design/build, what it means to participate in this form of designing and making, its benefits, and how small-scale design/builds can cause large-scale change.