2011: A NEW CYCLE OF THE PFP BEGINS.

We approach another cycle of the PFP and maintain our dedication to all the children involved with the PFP, enriching their lives with new ideas in design and exploratory thinking. As the PFP enters a new stage, the program is striving to reach beyond the walls of schools and into the communities developing social awareness and community ownership.

Cinco de Mayo Festival.

The PFP wrapped up/culminated on the day of the Cinco de Mayo celebration. We will be posting the final project pictures soon...stay tuned. Enjoy the video!

The Playhouse Fun Project partners with Architecture For Humanity: Design Charette

The FUN has begun!

This is the second of a six-week total program. Throughout the weeks the kids will take part in a series of exercises that allow them an opportunity in forming ideas about art and architecture regarding space, form and construction.

Week 2 theme: discovering relationships between two dimensional planar surfaces to three dimensional forms.

 

Kids and Playhouse

Playhouse Fun Project Part Dos!

So, as everyone may or may not know, another season of playhouse fun has unleashed its forces (and efforts) upon Martinez Elementary. After a few design charrettes, one of which (as many of you do not know) has included delicious doughnuts (enjoyed only by the most dedicated members of the organization that decided to show up for the design presentation this past Saturday morning).....and many run-on sentences later, we have a few schemes we would like to present to you, the anonymous blog reader.
While the presenters of these designs do not claim they are "the bestest in the worldest", they do believe it is a good start for the next phase of the project.
 Anyone involved in the organization (or not) is welcome to present their ideas, please email your schemes to playhousefunproject@gmail.com.

Below are some of the presented schemes:

Almost finished!

Here are a few pictures of the current state of the project, all that is left to finish the structure is the end caps where the beam and column meets. Unfotunately there is no more money left, so we have to figure out who to ask for donations.

Pre-fabrication

Though the design has not yet been officially approved by the school board, we have started construction in a school shed by the wood shop. The main tower, comprising of modular 2X4 studs, is pin-joined at the corners allowing some flexibility while we await the approval. The constructed pieces are also currently being double coated with water-proof stain.

Final Design Proposal

The design proposal presented at the Texas Art Education Association Presentation with Mrs. Gardere :

String Excercise

The kids had a lot of fun spatialy engaging their entire classroom during this excercise. The students thought about previous 2D excercises and incorporated the ideas into a spatial environment. Key points such as alignment, connectivity, space and materiality were discussed during the activity.