Architecture of materialism: A study of craft in design culture, process, and product

• Main Author: Mahaffey, Logan
• Format: Others
• Published: Scholar Commons 2009
• Subjects: Boatbuilding; Boathouse; Care; Jig; Furniture; Woodworking; American Studies; Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/2078; http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3077&context=etd

It is estimated ten thousand hours of experience are required to master any given process (Sennett 20). Whether it is wood joinery, music, culinary arts or weaving, it is about making something that can be seen, heard, touched, and/or used. Society seems to be losing an appreciation for craft as an idea. Especially in the US, materialism has reduced quality and craftsmanship to merely a luxury to those that can afford a $10,000 Maloof chair or an $8000 Amish table. Developers build for maximum profit while buyers seek maximum square footage. Yet it seems while mainstream society continues to "progress", the craftsmen see their clients loss comprehension and appreciation of true quality in their workmanship. While many schools and guilds around the country aim to keep "the crafts", i.e. material-based mediums alive, each craft brings potential processes and applications to the architectural realm. While the architect's general role is to be the conductor of these mediums, he should also study them as a source for potential material and building processes. The art of boatbuilding, glassblowing, ceramics and others each hold something unique to be implemented into architecture. While it is not yet clear what this thesis will turn out to be, as far as program or building type, the goal is the study of craftsmanship of all the different arts and how it can be translated into an architect's design process as well as his product.