The story
History
The studio was founded in 1993 by architects Samuel Mockbee and D. K. Ruth. Following Mockbee's death in 2001 and Ruth's change in position at the University in 2002, the leadership position of the studio went to UK-born architect and associate professor, Andrew Freear. The Rural Studio is based in Newbern, a small town in Hale County, Alabama. Many of its best-known projects are in the tiny community of Mason's Bend, on the banks of the Black Warrior River, as well as in the nearby Perry and Marengo counties. Each year the program builds several projects: a house by the second-year students, and 2-3 community-oriented thesis projects by groups of fifth-year students.
Safe House Black History Museum
In the late 2010s, the studio renovated, restored, and made an addition to the Safe House Black History Museum in Greensboro, Alabama. The redesign was awarded third place in American Architect's Building of the Year competition.
2010–2011
Lion's Park - Phase VI (hub), Greensboro
Safe House Black History Museum, Greensboro
2009–2010
Lion's Park - Phase V (playscape), Greensboro
2008–2009
Lion's Park - Phase IV (skateplay), Greensboro
2007–2008
20K - Bridge Greensboro
20K - Loft Greensboro
Read the full text
20K - Pattern Book Greensboro
20K - Roundwood Greensboro
St. Luke's Church Renovation, Cahawba, Alabama
2006–2007
Lion's Park - Phase II (toilets), Greensboro
Lion's Park - Phase III (surfacing), Greensboro
Akron Boys & Girls Club - II
$20K House - Phase III - Greensboro, Alabama
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Cahawba Leon, John Mansour, Candace Rimes, Jamie Sartory, Fuller Sherrod, Walker Stone, Nick Wickersham
2005–2006
Lion's Park - Phase I, Greensboro
Hale County Hospital, Greensboro
Hale County Animal Shelter, Greensboro
$20K House - Phase II, Greensboro
Michelle's House, Greensboro
Anna 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 Wilson
2004–2005
Perry Lakes Canopy Tower
Adrienne Brady, Natalie Butts, Paul Howard, Coley Mulcahy
Perry County Learning Center
Dereck Aplin, Sam Currie, Amy Bell, Angela Hughey, Turnley Smith
Christine's House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
Steven Long, Amy Bullington
Re-sourcing
David Garner
$20K House - Phase I, Hale County
Kellie Stokes, Laura Noguera, Phillip March Jones, Hana Loftus, Min Joo Kim
Willie Bell House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
2003–2004
Alabama Rural Heritage Center, Thomaston[1]
Abby Barnett Davis, Melissa Harold, Paul Kardous, Nathan Makemeson, Robert White
Newbern Volunteer Fire Department, Newbern
Will Brothers, Elizabeth Ellington, Matthew Finley, Leia Price
Perry Lakes Park Bridge, Perry County
Matthew Edwards, Lynielle Houston, Charlie Jorgensen, Sara Singleton
Sub Rosa Pantheon, Newbern
Carol Mockbee
Patrick House, Newbern
Outside In, Greensboro
2002–2003
Perry Lakes Toilets and Boardwalk, Marion
Sarah Dunn, Matt Foley, Brannen Park, Melissa Sullivan
Rural Heritage Center Gift Shop
Emily McGlohn, Katie B. Johnston, John David Caldwell
Sunshine School, Newbern
Organic Farmer's Stand, Newbern
Ola Mae Porch
Newbern Little League Field, Newbern
Jason A. Hunsucker, Jermaine Washington, Julie Hay, Patrick Nelson
Music Man House, Greensboro
dining hall, Newbern
Matt Christopher, Kris Johnson, Albert Ulysses Mitchum II, Clark Todd Gollotte
2001–2002
Perry Lakes Cedar Pavilion
Jennifer Bonner, Mary Beth Maness, Nathan Orrison, Anthony Tindill
Antioch Baptist Church
Jared Fulton, Gabe Michaud, William Nauck, Marion McElroy
HERO Knowledge Cafe, Greensboro
Andrea Ray, John McCabe, Daniel Sweeney, Matt Wilson
Great Hall at Morrisette, Newbern
Akron Senior Center
Matthew Barrett, Jonathan Graves, Breanna Hinderliter, Joseph Yeager
Shiles House
Lucy House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
Keith Zawistowski, Marie Zawistowski, James Tate, Ben Cannard, Kerry Larkin, Floris Keverling Buisman
Architectural Ambulance
2000–2001
Newbern Baseball Club, Newbern
Corrugated Cardboard Pod, Newbern
Chantilly House, Newbern
Bodark Amphitheatre, Newbern
Akron Boys & Girls Club
Sanders/Dudley House, Greensboro
Newbern Playground, Newbern
1999–2000
Glass Chapel, Mason's Bend, Hale County
Thomaston Farmer's Market
Pods at Morrisette, Newbern
Spencer House, Newbern
Sanders/Dudley House, Greensboro
Mason's Bend Basketball Court
1998–1999
Seed House
HERO Children's Center, Greensboro
Lewis House
Supershed & Bathhouse, Newbern
Spencer House, Newbern
Sanders/Dudley House, Greensboro
1997–1998
Butterfly House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
HERO Children's Center, Greensboro
Lewis House
Supershed & Bathhouse, Newbern
Spencer House, Newbern
1996–1997
Goat House, Josh Cooper and Iain Stewart
Butterfly House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
William 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 Pavilion
H.E.R.O. Playscape, Joe Alcock and Melissa Teng Greensboro
1995–1996
Wilson House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
1994–1995
Yancey Chapel, Sawyerville, Hale County (See pictures at http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?p=321.)
Hay Bale House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
Wilson House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
Supershed, Newbern
1993–1994
Smoke House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
Hay Bale House, Mason's Bend, Hale County
From Wikipedia’s article on Rural Studio, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3