The Rural Studio is a design-build architecture studio run by Auburn University. It aims to teach students about the social responsibilities of the profession of architecture while also providing safe, well-constructed and inspirational homes and buildings for poor communities in rural west Alabama, part of the so-called "Black Belt".
The studio was founded in 1993 by architects Samuel Mockbee and D. K. Ruth. It is led by UK-born architect Andrew Freear. Each year the program builds five or so projects - a house by the second-year students, three thesis projects by groups of 3-5 fifth-year students, and one or more outreach studio projects. The Rural Studio has built more than 80 houses and civic projects in Hale, Perry and Marengo counties. The Rural Studio is based in Newbern, a small town in Hale County. Many of its best-known projects are in the tiny community of Mason's Bend, on the banks of the Black Warrior River.
The $20K House is an ongoing research project at the Rural Studio that seeks to address the pressing need for decent and affordable housing in Hale County, Alabama. Nearly 30% of individuals in Hale County live in poverty. Due to the lack of conventional credit for people with this level of income, and insufficient knowledge about alternative sources of funding, mobile homes offer the only chance for home ownership for many. Unlike a house, which is an asset for its owner, trailers deteriorate very quickly and depreciate in value over time. Mobile homes are also linked with higher cancer rates due to the use of formaldehydes in their construction.
The $20k house project intends to produce a model home that could be reproduced on a large scale, and thereby become a viable alternative to the mobile home in this area. The challenge is to build a house for $20,000, ten to twelve thousand of which will go towards materials and the remainder to contracted labor. Once a truly successful model has been designed, the aim is to sell the houses in conjunction with the “502 Direct Loan” provided by the Rural Housing Service. The project began in 2005, and there have been 16 iterations of the house so far. The project is typically carried out by four outreach students, international post-graduates with a background in architecture or design.
By year. Some designers are listed.
Lion's Park - Phase VI (hub), GreensboroEd May, Madelynne Miller, Gwyndolyn Mowbray, Charles SpiresNewbern Town Hall, NewbernBrett Bowers, David Frazier, Mallory Garrett, Zane MorganThinnings Bath House, Payne Lake, Talladega National ForestMichael Dowdy, Franklin Frost, Will McGarity, Mary Pruitt$20K House Phase X, FaunsdaleJacob Beebe, Erika Henriksson, Eric Schmid, Sandra YuberoMorrisette House Passive Solar Greenhouse, NewbernMorgan Acino, Christine Bagdigian, Damien Bolden, Ashley Clark, Drew Craven, Kurt Funderberg, Brad Greene, Will Gregory, Kyle Johnson, Peter McInish, Michael Stricklin, Ashley WilliamsLion's Park - Phase V (playscape), GreensboroJamie Sartory, Courtney Mathias, Bill Batey, Cameron AchesonSafe House Museum, GreensboroCassandra Kellogg, Chris Currie, Candace RimesThinnings Bridge, Payne Lake, Talladega National ForestNick Wickersham, Golpar Garmestani, Nick Bishop$20k House Phase IX, FaunsdaleClem Blakemore, Pernilla Hagbert, Will HolmanMorrisette House Kitchen, NewbernEric Kessler, Ivan Vanchev, Alyssa Webster, Thomas Kurian, Hunter Dyas, Hanna Johns, Sean Sungyoon Jeong, Daniel WeldonLion's Park - Phase IV (skateplay), GreensboroEvan Dick, Brett Randall Jones, Carrie LaurendineLion's Park - Phase IV (concessions), GreensboroJohn Plaster, Terran Wilson, Sandy WolfThinnings Pavilion, Payne Lake, Talladega National ForestAnna Bevill, Lori Fine, Ian Hoffman, Roger Mainor$20K House Phase VIII, NewbernCharity Bulgrien, Ian Cook, Obi ElechiRose Lee House, FootwashSarah Al-Rukhayyes, Tyler Allgood, Kendra Ayers, Tanner Backman, Doug Bacon, Bob Benner, Brandon Block, Stephanie Brown, David Charney, Jordan Cox, Michael De St. Aubin, Andrew Dolder, Christine Furey, Rebecca Hayes, Alex Henderson, Randall Holmes, Clay Jackson, Stephen Kesel, Allyson Klinner, Kenneth Lao, Corey Lee, Tina Maceri, Lauren Oliver, Alex Peeples, Benjamin Pendergraft, Autumn Sikorowski, Andrew Taylor, Daniel Toner, Christina Walton, Elizabeth Whitlock, Joe Wojciechowski, Katie Woods, Mary Melissa Yohn20K - Bridge GreensboroBetsy Farrell, Drew Merkle, Rand Pinson, Ashley Snell20K - Loft GreensboroKait Caldwell, Joey Fante, Aimee O'Carroll, Ryan Stephenson20K - Pattern Book GreensboroDrew Coshow, Rob Douge, Abbie Grubb, Steven Ward20K - Roundwood GreensboroRyan Coleman, Matt Mueller, Mackenzie Stagg, Laurienne Uguen [1]St. Luke's Church Renovation, Cahawba, AlabamaMichael Dowdy, Hannah Dulaney, Susie Fagg, Mallory Garrett, Sarah Hunter, Maggie Johnson, Edward May, Will McGarity, Mary Pruitt, Nourah Said, Charles Spires, Ali Tyler, Johannes Ubben, Heather Baber, Alex Baker, Cassidy Beam, Brett Bowers, Meghan Bullard, John Burleson, David Frazier, Franklin Frost, Blake Habshey, Matt Millican, Zane Morgan, Corey Moulton, Gwyndolyn Mowbray, Delvin Stephens, Kristy SwannLion's Park - Phase II (toilets), GreensboroMark Dempsey, Russell Gibbs, Adam Kent, Pamela Raetz. [2]Lion's Park - Phase III (surfacing), GreensboroJoey Aplin, Lindsay Butler, Anthony Vu, Adam "Woody" Woodward. [3]Akron Boys & Girls Club - IIDanny Wicke, Whitney Hall, Adam Pearce, John Marusich$20K House - Phase III - Greensboro, AlabamaKaramjit Birk, Sabina Nieto, Jane Sloss, Jeremy Aranoff, and Prof. Steven "white lightning" Long
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, CahawbaAmy Songer, Amy Cook, Cassandra Kellogg, Jessica Moeller, Casey Patterson, Joe Kochak, Lea Henley, April Brown, Nicole Dennis, Courtney Mathias, Katie Owens, Amanda Peterson, Michael Shows, Scott Smith, Daniel Stewart, John Thompson, Brittany Winslett, Cameron Acheson, William Batey, Nick Biship, Chris Currie, Christine Dingivan, Golpar Garmestani, Erin Graves, Sarah Hollerman, Eric Hutchinson, Adam Leonard, Frances Leon, John Mansour, Candace Rimes, Jamie Sartory, Fuller Sherrod, Walker Stone, Nick Wickersham
Lion's Park - Phase I, GreensboroLaura Filipek, Alicia Gjesvold, Jeremy Sargent, Daniel Splaingard, Mark WiseHale County Hospital, GreensboroBlair Bricken, Nathan Foust, Nicholas Gray, Heidi SchattinHale County Animal Shelter, GreensboroJeff Bazzell, Julieta Collart, Lana Farkas, Connely Farr$20K House - Phase II, GreensboroNathalie Leysen, Alexandre Landry, Fernando Abreu, Susan Massey, Kellie StokesMichelle's House, GreensboroAnna Marie Bevil, Jason Blankenship, Brittany Creehan, Jacob Fyfe, Brittany Graeber, Jennifer Isenburg, Carrie Laurendine, Jonathan Mayhall, Don Mott, Brandon Rainosek, Haley Robinson, Christopher Terrell, Marcus Buckner-Perry, Justyn Chandler, Michelle Clark, Taylor Clark, Evan Dick, Lori Fine, Robert Hall, Drew Jerdan, Brett Randall Jones, Ben Krauss, Carolyn Norton, John Plaster, Dorothy Sherling, Casey Smith, Kathleen Webb, Terran WilsonPerry Lakes Canopy TowerAdrienne Brady, Natalie Butts, Paul Howard, Coley Mulcahy
Perry County Learning CenterDereck Aplin, Sam Currie, Amy Bell, Angela Hughey, Turnley Smith
Christine's House, Mason's Bend, Hale CountySteven Long, Amy Bullington
Re-sourcingDavid Garner
$20K House - Phase I, Hale CountyKellie Stokes, Laura Noguera, Phillip March Jones, Hanna Loftus, Minn Joo Kim
Willie Bell House, Mason's Bend, Hale CountyAlabama Rural Heritage Center, Thomaston[4]Abby Barnett Davis, Melissa Harold, Paul Kardous, Nathan Makemeson, Robert WhiteNewbern Volunteer Fire Department, NewbernWill Brothers, Elizabeth Ellington, Matthew Finley, Leia PricePerry Lakes Park Bridge, Perry CountyMatthew Edwards, Lynielle Houston, Charlie Jorgensen, Sara SingletonSub Rosa, NewbernCarol MockbeePatrick House, NewbernOutside In, GreensboroPerry Lakes Toilets and Boardwalk, MarionSarah Dunn, Matt Foley, Brannen Park, Melissa SullivanRural Heritage Center Gift ShopEmily McGlohn, Katie B. Johnston, John David CaldwellSunshine School, NewbernOrganic Farmer's Stand, NewbernOla Mae PorchNewbern Little League Field, NewbernJason A. Hunsucker, Jermaine Washington, Julie Hay, Patrick NelsonMusic Man House, Greensborodining hall, NewbernMatt Christopher, Kris Johnson, Albert Ulysses Mitchum II, Clark Todd GollottePerry Lakes Cedar PavilionJennifer Bonner, Mary Beth Maness, Nathan Orrison, Anthony TindillAntioch Baptist ChurchJared Fulton, Gabe Michaud, William Nauck, Marion McElroyHERO Knowledge Cafe, GreensboroAndrea Ray, John McCabe, Daniel Sweeney, Matt WilsonGreat Hall at Morrisette, NewbernAkron Senior CenterMatthew Barrett, Jonathan Graves, Breanna Hinderliter, Joseph YeagerShiles HouseLucy House, Mason's Bend, Hale CountyKeith Zawistowski, Marie Zawistowski, James Tate, Ben Cannard, Kerry Larkin, Floris Keverling BuismanArchitectural AmbulanceNewbern Baseball Club, NewbernCorrugated Cardboard Pod, NewbernChantilly House, NewbernBodark Amphitheatre, NewbernAkron Boys & Girls ClubSanders/Dudley House, GreensboroNewbern Playground, NewbernGlass Chapel, Mason's Bend, Hale CountyThomaston Farmer's MarketPods at Morrisette, NewbernSpencer House, NewbernSanders/Dudley House, GreensboroMason's Bend Basketball CourtSeed HouseHERO Children's Center, GreensboroLewis HouseSupershed & Bathhouse, NewbernSpencer House, NewbernSanders/Dudley House, GreensboroButterfly House, Mason's Bend, Hale CountyHERO Children's Center, GreensboroLewis HouseSupershed & Bathhouse, NewbernSpencer House, NewbernGoat House, Josh Cooper and Iain StewartButterfly House, Mason's Bend, Hale CountyWilliam Austin, Clifford Brooks, Kristen Kepner Coleman, Joshua Daniel, Adam Gerndt, Jo Beth Gleason, Jeremy Moffet, Justin Patwin, Hunter Simmons, Elizabeth Stallworth, Samuel Watkins, William Whittaker Jr., Heather Wootten, Jeff Marteski, Timothy Sliger, Robert Sproull, Tommy Replogle, Jon Schumann, John Ritchie, Charlie Hughes, Jimmy Turner, Jeff Johnston,Akron PavilionH.E.R.O. Playscape, Joe Alcock and Melissa Teng GreensboroWilson House, Mason's Bend, Hale CountyYancey Chapel, Sawyerville, Hale County (See pictures at http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?p=321.)Hay Bale House, Mason's Bend, Hale CountyWilson House, Mason's Bend, Hale CountySupershed, NewbernSmoke House, Mason's Bend, Hale CountyHay Bale House, Mason's Bend, Hale County