Generating Design

When approaching the design for Duncan and Nugget, what exactly they needed as adult pigs to thrive in their new bachelor pad on a VERY tight budget were taken into consideration.  As stated earlier, they need to be cool in the summer, and warm in the winter.  They love to laze about, especially in the mud, and they love to chew on some tasty greens.  (Actually, they eat and gnaw on almost everything- another important thing to know!)

After brainstorming about how to obtain and use "inexpensive building materials" (and by inexpensive, i mean "free" or close to), I started perusing sites such as Craigslist and Ebay for unique ideas.  Inspired by the beautiful farm compounds and their simple beauty along the way to Mehoopany, we thought we could put an architectural spin on a classic piece of farm-i-tecture and customize it for the piggies.  I found a 10' diameter corrugated metal grain silo on Ebay for $1.99 ($80.00 shipping), residing in Sacramento, California.  I struck pay-dirt thinking we could rip the structure in half, offset the pieces and ultimately 'wrap' the inhabitants with the structure- hence, "Pigs in a Blanket."

I signed up for one of those bidding websites that guarantees a win, and to my dismay was outbid by $2.50.

Rallying against the loss of the structure and my vision of architectural grandeur for the piggies, we decided to keep the same design parti and change the material.  Joe Savo introduced the innovative idea of a rammed earth structure that would be inexpensive, tough, beautiful and unique.

duncan and nugget helping.

existing site materials...

bertie (sir bertram fancypants) helping finalize the site

We staked the site and started the logistics for site location and building placement.

shade for sweaty pigs

Large animals need to be cool - this is one of the first lessons I learned to keep the animals happy at the farm.  Number two-  look where you are stepping, that keeps the architect happy on the farm.  


Inside the existing enclosure was the only shade Duncan and Nugget currently had at the site.  The first design decision made was to provide an impromptu shading structure attached to the enclosure.  Bart, Joe and I foraged for material along the creek and in the pastures hoping to find felled timbers and other materials we could use to build with.  Indra generously invited us to peruse the north barn, where we struck gold!  We found rough-sawn timbers, dimensional lumber, corrugated plastic sheeting (right?), cmu blocks, tires, palettes and an old Jaguar car cover (again, right?!?).  

After a quick design charette, we immediately began to build the shading structure.  On the east side of the roof, a 2x8 was placed on end to support the rough-sawn timbers that would hold up the stretched car cover.  The cantilevered timbers were notched and fitted over the 2x8, then toe-nailed at the west end of the existing structure.  

Joe and Bart stretched the car cover over the timbers, and no matter how much it was pulled to be tight and smooth, there was an awkward bump.  They decided to "celebrate" the material and extend the bump.  

The new shading was provided along the east side of the structure, extending the shadow provided by the existing enclosure AND the new cover.  

Goal = Achieved
Cost = $0
Success!  
Now that's one happy pig... (and architect!)

you want to build for who?

I believe that everybody deserves good design, and when approached to design new digs for Duncan and Nugget, two 800 lb. Yorkshire-type pigs currently residing in tight quarters at the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Mehoopany, PA, I was in excited to expand my client list!

I met with Indra at the farm, and she patiently and passionately introduced me to all of the animals she has rescued.  I loved her personal interaction with each 'resident', especially their unique and thoughtful names.   I met the cows, calves and Gus the yak; the goats, the cats, the horses, the pot-bellied pigs; Sabine the horse, Mother Superior the hen (the head of the welcoming committee of the upper barn); the turkeys, potbelly pigs, and the sheep.  A friendly sheep, Bertie, (Sir Betram Fancypants) trailed a short but safe distance behind us as we headed to the pig enclosure for me to meet Duncan and Nugget.

The "two big, friendly boys" (as Jen Washichosky described them to me when plugging the project) trotted up to me and I was greeted with snorts and piggie tail wags.  They nuzzled at me, which can be a bit intimidating  coming from an 800 pound gentle-giant.  I was struck by their friendliness, obedience and general happy nature.  These are happy pigs.

I saw the small enclosure the two brothers snugly fit in.  When they first moved into their new house, Indra was concerned they would get lost as they barely needed half of the space.  Now, at least one (if not both) have some body part hanging out of the house!

Earlier this year I taught a second year architecture design studio at Marywood University in Scranton, PA.  The group I instructed was highly motivated and exceptionally creative.  I thought this would be an incredible opportunity for them to learn to design and build a structure.  After emailing the students, I received an overwhelming response and brought the first group up to the site...