Seattle Center Habitat Build

This was a well attended sketch crawl and everyone was in close proximity because of the small size of the Habitat build site.  Usually the group gets spread out over a large area and i don't see many sketchers  during the sketching time.  This time I sat next to a number of people and was constantly seeing others move to new spots nearby or through my view point.

Habitat House at the Center

Kinda shocking to see how much Seattle Center has changed. I drove a forklift for a living as a young man and felt compelled to make it my focal point.

Comparing Cultures - World Home vs. Home of the immediate future

I really didn't "get" the story behind the build until just before I left Seattle Center and I talked to Jason,  one of the Americorps workers who was making bricks.

 Making bricks for the World Home

The small "World House" (about 12'x15') is typical of houses Habitat builds in third world countries. Currently there are many of these structures in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries. This structure would house about 6 people. Even though the climate allows for much more outdoor living, it is very small by American standards. The workers were making bricks for the structure's facade.

The larger structure "Home for the Immediate Future" was also relatively small compared to a McMansion. Jason said it is designed to have moveable walls. Except for the "wet areas"--the bathroom, kitchen and laundry area--the walls can be repositioned to allow for expansions and contractions as the family grows, then contracts. 

Delayed Sketchcrawl Appearance at the Seattle Center

Habitat crew making bricks for the Habitat World House

Some weeks are just bad!  This week was a bad car week.  Besides having our Prius in the shop,  I bottomed out my van at the Seattle Center Parking lot and noticed liquid streaming from the bottom of my car.   Thankfully Steve Reddy was there early and contacted AAA for me and I was able to get my car towed our mechanic.  I did come back late to the sketchcrawl saw Mark Ryan, Gabi Campanario and family and Jane Wingfield.  Jane ended up sketching while I was there so I felt like I had a sketch partner.   Here are sketches I did.  The first sketch done while waiting for the tow truck. This time allowed me to sketch the art screen between the EMP entry and the parking lot.  The second was the House of the Immediate Future...the habitat crew is sitting and having lunch on the right hand side of the sketch.  The last is the tent where bricks were being built for the World House.  This is the house Habitat builds in third world countries.  This is a side by side comparison to the homes we have in the U.S. adjacent to the homes built in the third world.  All in all it was an eventful day.  Hope everyone else had a great time.

Habitat Build Site at Seattle Center

Seattle Center Parking Lot

Habitat for Humanity at the base of the Needle

There was another huge showing today for the sketch crawl at the Seattle Center. It was great be there to see the faces behind the sketchbooks. The project was a Miller-Hull designed temporary "House of the Immediate Future". They are exploring every aspect of design in this home from pre-fab components and zero energy to aging in place. Check out their blog for more at millerhull.com/blog