Project Overview:
Six studios were tasked with designing and fabricating a small wooden boat in the first two weeks of the semester. The requirements for the boat were given as followed: “The boat must remain afloat for at least five minutes while accommodating one person sitting. The boat will be powered by paddles, not oars. Based on this, the final construction is not to have any hardware for securing the paddles for additional leverage. The boat is to be constructed of wood with the exception of fasteners and surface coatings applied for waterproofing. The overall dimensions of the boat are not to exceed 8 feet in length x 3 feet in width x 3 feet in depth. Awards will be given based on one of three categories: Speed - the fastest boat to traverse from point A to point B on the lake. Concours d’Elegance - The most beautiful boat based on the subjective judgement of the faculty. Craft - the most well-crafted boat based on the entire structure/assembly system.”
From initial testing to winning the race, much insight was gained in the actual processes and techniques of building a boat, from creating watertight seals along joints and creating stability for the boat itself to how building and transporting a boat impacts the spaces involved in its construction. Upon visiting the site for the design project for the remainder of the studio, the Buffalo Maritime Center, a list of some required programs was given for the redevelopment project. The proposed redevelopment includes gallery and display spaces, library and conference rooms for access by the public, a full scale boat building workshop, space for milling and lumber storage, tool and metalworking space, a bronze foundry, finished boat storage and space for the public to rent or purchase boats. In addition, circulation through this project allows for public observation of the workshop in use from a raised walkway over the shop, as well as views to the finished boats in use on the Niagara River from the observation tower.
