The Studio

Kansas City, Missouri

Sketches in the Sketch Book

The American Urbanism Studio is the opportunity to experience the Grand Tour of America. These immersive opportunities invite students to explore a city, and document it through various medians. The collection of this work is complied to document the patterns of a place, and provide direction for future development decision making.

The Studio is organized for students to experience a balance of the history of the place, technical drafting or sketching, and design problem solving. The class provides the opportunity for multiple fields to come together to learn from a city that is a cornerstone of American Urbanism.

Discussion Over Dinner

Discussion Over Dinner

Each Studio session has a core focus such as urban development or architectural issues of the city. Depending on the level of the class, the studio could be expanded to develop quick design vignettes for blocks or parcels in the city.

Structure of the City

Structure of the City

The Host cities of the American Urbanism Studio would receive multiple lasting benefits. The first benefit of this studio would be the introduction of the architectural character of the city to a growing group of individuals. This would build a broad stakeholder group who will have the experience of looking at the city through the eyes of an architect. The Studio Class generate excitement and a body of work that will attract other like minded individuals. The Studio would create a body of work documenting the architecture and urbanism of the city.

This work would be organized into a modern “Pattern Book.” The Pattern Book would be a textbook illustrating the identity and character of the city. The Pattern Book would organize the rich architectural patterns into easily understandable chapters.