Last night, our class met for our design “charet” if you will (I can’t believe I’m actually using that word). After our last couple of meetings, we had decided to focus our efforts on connectivity of major community hotspots in Bamberg. We had also discussed restoring a historical site, such as the old cotton mill site or the civic center, to create a nice, multifunctional facility for the community. We especially focused on the mill site with its old smoke stack as a potential community landmark and center for community events.
I joined a team that would focus on revitalizing and/or creating a community site or facility because of my strong interest in this type of work. I was hoping to either restore the civic center that is nearly falling apart, or to create a multifunctional facility for the old mill site. However, perhaps due to our lack of time and lack of resources, our team decided to mainly focus on issues of connectivity and community center. The mill site was chosen as the town center. Barak and I will work together to create a collage of images of what the site could become one day. Allison and Lauren are going to use photoshop to create a new streetscape of downtown Bamberg. Felix and Noelle are going to do a write-up on walkability and how it could bring positive affects to Bamberg. I think the rest of our team is going to be mapping out major ways of connectivity and looking at the Berm as a major connection-way to downtown and the mill site.
At our “charet” we were all encouraged to pick up markers and contribute to mapping of these connections. This was a little frustrating to me because I just didn’t feel like I was qualified to know what good planning strategies were in comparison to the classmates of mine who are in that program. Hopefully I was able to contribute something. Nevertheless, it has been really amazing to work with students from other disciplines and gain understanding from each other. I really hope that I will have more opportunities to do so in the future at Clemson.
To conclude, our group is planning to collect and organize all the data and research we have been working on over the semester and comprise it into a single document for the Mayors Institute.
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Workshop
Today we had a town-hall meeting/ workshop with several members of the community. Based on the results from our surveying, Harry planned a workshop that would involve any interested community members to help us determine the needs of the community in terms of development.
Harry discussed several key factors that the community should consider as outside influences. These issues include things like gas prices, the digital age, the retirement of Baby Boomers, etc. We later discussed inside issues affecting Bamberg—things like the school system, taxes, and housing. After each discussion, table groups used poker chips to rank which factors were more important to them as citizens. I loved interacting with the community. Hearing their concerns made the needs real.
I was fortunate to be at a table with two members of the city council, as well as two community members. One table member was a white male, and the other three members were black females. However, all four table members shared the same concerns. They felt as if the town had many issues to resolve with its neighboring community in Denmark, mainly based around racial differences. It will be very important for Bamberg and Denmark to work together in the future in order to grow and develop.
Another key issue that was brought up was the need for community multifunctional spaces and retail opportunities. Most table members said that they leave town to grocery shop, buy gas, eat, or to find activities. It also seems that with a limited number of retail locations in Bamberg--for example, Bamberg only has one grocery store—there is no outside competition for prices.
Finally, our table had a long discussion about the status of downtown and its need for revitalization. I was particularly enjoying this conversation because of my own interest in urban restoration and historic preservation in my hometown (Macon, GA). To end our exercised for the day, we had table members draw on top of an areal map of Bamberg the areas to which they felt deserved attention. We also had them mark the good parts of town and the bad parts of town.
The workshop was very exciting for me. I became very interested in planning. For the rest of the day I even wondered if I had adopted the wrong field of study for my masters. Hopefully, I will be able to take some classes involving planning in the future.
Lastly, I was able to speak with Janeth, the city council member at my table, about becoming involved with city projects, such as the ones in Bamberg and even in Macon. I could tell from talking with her that we both shared a passion for our home cities. However, she warned me that it can be a difficult job from time to time. As she put it, you have so many great visions for your community that will almost all fail due to politics and money. I can already begin to understand what she means by this just from participating in this class. However, I am not ready to give up yet. Hopefully in the future I will have opportunities to explore architecture in the civic realm for myself.
Harry discussed several key factors that the community should consider as outside influences. These issues include things like gas prices, the digital age, the retirement of Baby Boomers, etc. We later discussed inside issues affecting Bamberg—things like the school system, taxes, and housing. After each discussion, table groups used poker chips to rank which factors were more important to them as citizens. I loved interacting with the community. Hearing their concerns made the needs real.
I was fortunate to be at a table with two members of the city council, as well as two community members. One table member was a white male, and the other three members were black females. However, all four table members shared the same concerns. They felt as if the town had many issues to resolve with its neighboring community in Denmark, mainly based around racial differences. It will be very important for Bamberg and Denmark to work together in the future in order to grow and develop.
Another key issue that was brought up was the need for community multifunctional spaces and retail opportunities. Most table members said that they leave town to grocery shop, buy gas, eat, or to find activities. It also seems that with a limited number of retail locations in Bamberg--for example, Bamberg only has one grocery store—there is no outside competition for prices.
Finally, our table had a long discussion about the status of downtown and its need for revitalization. I was particularly enjoying this conversation because of my own interest in urban restoration and historic preservation in my hometown (Macon, GA). To end our exercised for the day, we had table members draw on top of an areal map of Bamberg the areas to which they felt deserved attention. We also had them mark the good parts of town and the bad parts of town.
The workshop was very exciting for me. I became very interested in planning. For the rest of the day I even wondered if I had adopted the wrong field of study for my masters. Hopefully, I will be able to take some classes involving planning in the future.
Lastly, I was able to speak with Janeth, the city council member at my table, about becoming involved with city projects, such as the ones in Bamberg and even in Macon. I could tell from talking with her that we both shared a passion for our home cities. However, she warned me that it can be a difficult job from time to time. As she put it, you have so many great visions for your community that will almost all fail due to politics and money. I can already begin to understand what she means by this just from participating in this class. However, I am not ready to give up yet. Hopefully in the future I will have opportunities to explore architecture in the civic realm for myself.
A Little History
This weekend we will be going to Bamberg for our workshop with the community. My job to prepare for the workshop was to research and educate my group members on the history and context of Bamberg. I was actually really surprised at the number of websites that offered history on Bamberg, particularly the Historic Society’s website. It turns out that many buildings in Bamberg, especially residences, are listed on the South Carolina Historical Register as well as on the National Register of Historical Sites. The website lets you go on a virtual tour of all of these sites. I collected all of my research from the internet and created a written timeline as well as an abbreviated graphical one.
Some interesting facts about Bamberg:
It was originally known as Simmons Turnout. A wealthy landowner by the name of Simmons had given the property to the town that would later become Bamberg. It was called Simmons Turnout because many people would gather around the train stop to socialize and observe all that was coming in and out of town. Most of the commerce in Bamberg formed around this train stop, which is today known as the Berm.
Later, Simmons Turnout would become known as Bamberg for General Bamberg, who was a very influential player in the growth and the development of the area after the Civil War.
Another fact about Bamberg is that most of the economic boom and growth of the town was due to cotton, the town’s staple product. Several large mills were set up close to downtown that attributed to the success of Bamberg through around the 1920s. The 1920s seem to be the peak time for the growth of Bamberg. Today the old mill buildings have been destroyed and all that remains is the smoke stack from the original cotton mill.
There are a several other historical sites around Bamberg, but as I mentioned earlier, most of the registered sites are older residences. Some of the residences were once occupied by prominent citizens of the area like the Simmons family or the Bamberg family. Many are just listed purely for their age, and most are in need of restoration. I enjoyed investigating the context of this town. I really think its important and valuable to take into account the historical significance of the area when choosing a site for construction. This is especially important when the key client is the community itself.
Some interesting facts about Bamberg:
It was originally known as Simmons Turnout. A wealthy landowner by the name of Simmons had given the property to the town that would later become Bamberg. It was called Simmons Turnout because many people would gather around the train stop to socialize and observe all that was coming in and out of town. Most of the commerce in Bamberg formed around this train stop, which is today known as the Berm.
Later, Simmons Turnout would become known as Bamberg for General Bamberg, who was a very influential player in the growth and the development of the area after the Civil War.
Another fact about Bamberg is that most of the economic boom and growth of the town was due to cotton, the town’s staple product. Several large mills were set up close to downtown that attributed to the success of Bamberg through around the 1920s. The 1920s seem to be the peak time for the growth of Bamberg. Today the old mill buildings have been destroyed and all that remains is the smoke stack from the original cotton mill.
There are a several other historical sites around Bamberg, but as I mentioned earlier, most of the registered sites are older residences. Some of the residences were once occupied by prominent citizens of the area like the Simmons family or the Bamberg family. Many are just listed purely for their age, and most are in need of restoration. I enjoyed investigating the context of this town. I really think its important and valuable to take into account the historical significance of the area when choosing a site for construction. This is especially important when the key client is the community itself.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Visiting Bamberg
Last week, three of us drove to Bamberg and back (385 miles!!) to begin our work in Bamberg, Barak, Allison, and I met Harry for lunch at a local pizza parlor, and he discussed our assignment. Each of us split up and took a neighborhood of our own to investigate through survey. The survey was 5 pages long and asked questions from the basic (age, sex, ethnicity), to jobs, to opinions on local housing and schooling, etc. It even provided a map and asked for circles to be made around “good areas” of town and Xs to be made around “bad areas” of town. The neighborhoods we were provided us with the opportunity to visit at least fifty houses (its hard to remember exactly how many…I definitely lost count quickly!) Our only task was to get seven surveys filled out by members within our assigned neighborhoods. It surely sounds easier than it was…
It was a little after noon or right around 1:00pm at the time we began walking into our neighborhoods from the City Hall where our car was parked. Harry had told us that as soon as we completed the surveys, our work would be done for the day. The assignment may seem easier than it really was… I must have knocked on over fifty doors—covered a whole neighborhood—and it took me nearly four hours to just get those seven surveys filled out!
Harry seemed a little surprised when we told him about our survey results. I would say that we might have had a turn down rate of at least three out of four. I can’t blame the people who didn’t even come to the door. I am sure if I look back in my life, I can think of times when I have done the same. However, it made me feel as though the people in Bamberg just don’t care, especially because the issues of development in their town are so prevalent and clear to me. The first person to actually come to the door for me was a friendly, older man. When I asked him if he was interested in expressing his opinion through a survey on the growth and development of his town, he replied, “You know what I think? I think you all should tear this whole damn town down and rebuild it from the bottom up.” He seemed to think that would be the only worthwhile thing to do. At times throughout the day, I felt as if others might share this opinion.
It will be interesting to meet tonight with our group to discuss everyone else’s experiences with the surveys. I am also wondering what the main issues will be concerning the growth and development in Bamberg and what we will be able to accomplish there. Despite the results of our work last Wednesday, I do not feel as if we were unsuccessful. I enjoyed talking to the few people that I did survey, and I am also excited about meeting with the community for our upcoming workshop.
It was a little after noon or right around 1:00pm at the time we began walking into our neighborhoods from the City Hall where our car was parked. Harry had told us that as soon as we completed the surveys, our work would be done for the day. The assignment may seem easier than it really was… I must have knocked on over fifty doors—covered a whole neighborhood—and it took me nearly four hours to just get those seven surveys filled out!
Harry seemed a little surprised when we told him about our survey results. I would say that we might have had a turn down rate of at least three out of four. I can’t blame the people who didn’t even come to the door. I am sure if I look back in my life, I can think of times when I have done the same. However, it made me feel as though the people in Bamberg just don’t care, especially because the issues of development in their town are so prevalent and clear to me. The first person to actually come to the door for me was a friendly, older man. When I asked him if he was interested in expressing his opinion through a survey on the growth and development of his town, he replied, “You know what I think? I think you all should tear this whole damn town down and rebuild it from the bottom up.” He seemed to think that would be the only worthwhile thing to do. At times throughout the day, I felt as if others might share this opinion.
It will be interesting to meet tonight with our group to discuss everyone else’s experiences with the surveys. I am also wondering what the main issues will be concerning the growth and development in Bamberg and what we will be able to accomplish there. Despite the results of our work last Wednesday, I do not feel as if we were unsuccessful. I enjoyed talking to the few people that I did survey, and I am also excited about meeting with the community for our upcoming workshop.
Rules of Engagement
This blog will be devoted to writing about my experiences from Rules of Engagement, a course I am taking this semester at Clemson. A typical semester for students in grad architecture is 15 credits, but this class was so appealing to me that I am overloading to fit it in!
My Methods & Materials professor, Jori Erdman, is team teaching the course with Mary Beth McCubbin from Landscape & Planning, and Harry Crissy, who is an extension agent for Clemson. Jori told us about the course during our first Methods & Materials class. She explained it as a hands-on, design-build type course. Jori is a huge fan of Rural Studio at Auburn University. If you don’t know what that is, you should definitely check into it. Basically, a similar goal of both the Rural Studio and our Rules of Engagement course is to go into a community, find a need, and develop a project around that need. The students in both scenarios are able not only to serve a small community with economic needs, but to also learn about architecture and gain hands-on experience at the same time.
I became interested in this course immediately for two reasons. One: I love to serve others. With the demands of school, it is hard to be able to give back to
My Methods & Materials professor, Jori Erdman, is team teaching the course with Mary Beth McCubbin from Landscape & Planning, and Harry Crissy, who is an extension agent for Clemson. Jori told us about the course during our first Methods & Materials class. She explained it as a hands-on, design-build type course. Jori is a huge fan of Rural Studio at Auburn University. If you don’t know what that is, you should definitely check into it. Basically, a similar goal of both the Rural Studio and our Rules of Engagement course is to go into a community, find a need, and develop a project around that need. The students in both scenarios are able not only to serve a small community with economic needs, but to also learn about architecture and gain hands-on experience at the same time.
I became interested in this course immediately for two reasons. One: I love to serve others. With the demands of school, it is hard to be able to give back to
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