Studio 804 Studio 804 is a non-profit, 501c3 design/build program affiliated with but independent of the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design. The name “Studio 804” is derived from the course which serves as the final design studio within the graduate architecture program at the University of Kansas. The studio evolved incrementally, beginning ten years ago with small-scale design/build projects. In 1998, this escalated into an affordable housing project for the City of Lawrence wherein the studio designed and built a house. A precedent was established for the yearly design and construction of a low-cost house, and in the intervening seven years, Studio 804 has become more sophisticated by tackling projects of greater complexity. Projects in the last two years have used pre-fabrication techniques, in which houses constructed off-site were later shipped and installed on site. In particular, the two most recent projects have been successful in generating national exposure and interest. Process Students take responsibility for every aspect of the process: meeting clients, working with municipalities, creating designs, inviting neighborhood participation, and completing the entire process of construction by graduation in the third week of May. It is an extensive process with few parallels in architectural education. The result provides the community with an affordable house while furthering the students’ knowledge and experience in applicable architectural and building practices. The studio, directed by Professor Dan Rockhill, has been the recipient of numerous awards across the profession and received the coveted NCARB Prize two years ago for excellence in bridging architectural education between formal education and practice. Mission Studio 804 remains committed to continued research and development of affordable and inventive housing solutions. This is done by critically examining, on all levels, the standards of human comfort and the nature of urban spaces. Issues of sustainability, accessibility, and efficiency dominate our collective interests. We question traditional design models, generate new ways to build, and promote the creative use of materials. Achievements Studio 804 has been recognized by many publications, both nationally and internationally. In addition, the program has maintained a website, www.studio804.com, in order to familiarize the public with our efforts and achievements throughout the years. Studio 804 has won numerous awards for innovation, practice, and affordability from nationally recognized architecture associations, most notably: the 2004 Home of the Year Award presented by Architecture Magazine for the Lloyd Street house. Studio 804 also has featured articles in The New York Times, Dwell Magazine, World Architecture, as well as publications in Belgium, The Netherlands, China, and England.
Project List and Awards
2005 750 Shawnee Rd, Kansas City, KS • Honor Award, Boston Society of Architects, In Pursuit of Housing, April 2005.
2004
3800 Lloyd St, Kansas City, KS • Home of the Year, Architecture Magazine, Sept 2004 • Merit Award, Wood Design and Building; The International Wood Design Awards, 2004
2003
1718 Atherton Ct, Lawrence, KS • First Place Award, SECCA “HOME” House Project Design Award • NCARB Prize for Creative Integration of Practice and Education
2001
1603 Random Rd, Lawrence, KS • First Place Award, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Hollow Steel Tube Competition • Third Place Award, The David Award, Archeworks • Chicago “Excellence in Design for People with Disabilities” • First Place Award, “Design with Memory,” International Competition for Sustainable Design 216 Alabama St, Lawrence, KS • Finalist, World Architecture Awards, Hong Kong 2001 • Judges Award, Residential Architect Design Awards, professional competition • Design Matters, Best Practices in Affordable Housing, City Design Center, University of Illinois, Chicago • Y2K Roadmap to Green Buildings, Mid-America Regional Council • Livable Communities Award, The American Institute of Architects • First Place Award, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Hollow Steel Tube Competion • Affordable Housing Award, Federal Home Loan Bank 1st Place Award, ACSA Steel Tube Competition 1144 Pennsylvania St, Lawrence, KS • Honorable Mention, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Hollow Steel Tube Competition • Grand Prize, Residential Architectural Design Awards, professional competition • Affordable Housing Award, Federal Home Loan Bank
2000
1999
1998
933 Pennsylvania St, Lawrence, KS • Global Home Award, Structural Board Association • Affordable Housing Award, Federal Home Loan Bank
Publications
Home of the Year Award, First Award, Modular 1 House, Studio 804, Architecture Magazine, November 2004, pp 38-43. Lecuyer, Annette. “Studio 804.” DeArchitect, The Hague, NL, April 2005. “62 Reasons to Love Your Country,” Gentleman’s Quarterly, July 2005. Yang, Andrew. “Familiarity With Blueprint and Hammer Come in Handy.” The New York Times, August 5, 2004. Wagner, Andrew. “Dan Rockhill on Studio 804.” Dwell, May 2005, pp 126-7. Sparkes, Ken. “Prefab.” Spaces Magazine, London, UK.. September 2005.
st Bell, Jonathan. “Modular 2.” 21 Century Office, London, UK 2005.
Ebong, Ima. “Studio 804.” Kit Homes Modern, Collins 2005. “Modular 1 House.” The Wood Design Awards 2004, pp 48-55. Suning, Fan. “Modular 1 House.” Tsinghua University Architecture Publications, Beijing, CN, April 2005. Brown, David. “2003 House.” The Home House Project, December 2004, pp 74-75. Hill, Steven. “Mod Squad.” Kansas Alumni, Issue 1 2005, pp 57-58. Hoedel, Cindy. “Q+A.” Kansas City Star, October 31, 2004, p E2. Sylvester, Michael. “Modular 1 House.” Fabprefab.com, Spring 2004. “Modular 1 House.” Wood Design and Building, Autumn Issue 2004. Bussel, Abby. “Prefabricated Modular House.” Architecture, April 2004. McGraw, Hesse. “Studio 804.” Review, Architecture 2003, p 7. “Rockhill’s Studio 804,” metropolismag.com, July 2002. Paul, Steve. “Hammer and Lesson.” Kansas City Star, April 22, 2003 p E1. Pearson, Jason. “Studio 804.” University-Community Design Partnerships, Innovations in Practice, 2002, pp 97-106. Arieff, Alison. “Meet Our Nice Modernists.” Dwell, October 2002, p 16. Archer-Barnstone, Deborah. “Building Designs for Living: Studio 804 University of Kansas.” Journal of Architectural Education, February 2002, pp 186-193. Knecht, Barbara. “Plastics Finally Get Respect.” Architectural Record, December 2001, pp 107-112. “Studio 804, 216 Alabama.” World Architecture, April 2001. O’Brien, Tom. “Student Architects Create Housing.” Fine Homebuilding, March 2000, p 54. “Learn By Doing.” Residential Architect, May 1998, p 8. Bilello, Joe. “Hands On Learning.” Architecture, November 1996, pp 100-111. William, Stephan. “Design Lab Mutants.” The New York Times, May 11, 2000, p F6.
Sample Email Inquiries
Congratulations to Studio 804 on a fantastic design and recognition by the New York Times. I am impressed with the sleek lines and innovative use of the modular units. Will you be doing another project in the Kansas City area? Is there a possibility that the general public can bid/buy the house? Again, congratulations. Amy, UBS Financial Services Mr. Rockhill, I saw an article about your modular I home this morning in the NY Times. I own land just outside of Marfa, TX, and am looking for a prefab house. The lot is flat grassland, protected by the nature conservancy. Is the modular I house available for sale? Would your studio be interested in building a new one? If you are interested, I can send you pictures of the lot, it’s quite spectacular - just space and light. Sincerely, Gerald My partner Joey Forsyte and I were referred by Allison Arieff with whom are developing a documentary series about Modern prefab architecture. We are envisioning the series for PBS. We would be interested in talking to you about featuring your program in our film. We’re curious to know if your project next year at Studio 804 will be a prefab project and, if so, if we could track the project from conception to completion? We’re working under deadline to complete our proposal and would love to speak to you as soon as possible. If you guys are interested in participating in our research and development of prefab house, let me know. We have outlined our commitments for prefab house research and development for 2005-2010. Every year will involve summer travel site research. During fall and winter, we will be engaged in full scale prototype building in our shop. Goal is to have marketable prototype towards end of our research and development. Lazor Office has asked us for help with their Mini FlatPak House installation at Design Within Reach store in Chicago. We have enough staff already volunteering for this effort from Crosstree, Inc., but if you guys are interested in this process let me know. It will go up faster with more people. This is expected to happen around beginning of August around weekend. How can I get more information on the Modular 1 House? My partner and I saw the article in the NY Times today, and are interested in building/purchasing. Is this something that is available for consumers? We appreciate your response. Thanks! Elayne, Director Marketing Strategy and Programs, Cyclone Commerce, Inc. Could you please put me in touch with your international sales director? I have a special request to address on behalf of a couple friends in Germany and myself (I live in France ) Please provide me with contact information (name/e-mail/fax) as I do wish to deal with someone in charge. Please respond promptly. Regards, Dr. Luca K, Avenue de Versailles, 75016 Paris Saw your home in Dwell and on your website - absolutely love it. Are the plans available for purchase? Many thanks and keep up the great work! Don, Boston MA Dear Mr. Rockhill, I really like the Modular 1 home you built last year. I wondering how one might go about having a similar home built? I live in Canada, are you associated with a Canadian company that would build the homes here? I look forward to hearing back from you. Kirk F, Toronto
I am looking at houses and I am not interested in a residential “Jones’” house. I am an artist/musician/sculptor, I live outside of Chicago and really do not belong in a boring house. Why spent money on boredom? Really? You guys understand form and function and have excellent taste. HOW MUCH IS THE MODULAR II? What would the cost be per sq. foot? Everything else like it is about $130-1890 sq. ft. I am serious. Thanks Dear Mr. Rockhill & students/associates: PLEASE tell me that your plans are (1) available to the general public, (2) affordable and easy(ish) to build. I’ve been conducting a search for a home to build on our mountaintop lot in Arkansas(Dardanelle area) for four years now. We haven’t a big chunk of funds to invest at once, but we do have a fabulous lot on top of Spring Mountain, complete with a shared airstrip and a view that goes on forever, public electricity (if we so choose) and the cleanest air around. Before I go on anymore, please -- are you and your team available to work with folks who make a normal income, prefer to pay as we go but can get a loan as needed, and want to bring something truly wonderful and interesting into our lives in the form of a new home? Please advise. In any event, kudos to you and your team. Again... WOW. Thanks much, Valerie Today’s New York Times featured your modular home. It is beautiful and you should all be very proud of your work. Is it available for purchase? Isabelle I am an affordable housing professional in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I was recently exposed to the Modular I project and I am extremely interested in the possibilities of a low cost housing opportunity such as this. We are currently close to $120 / sq. ft. on construction cost here in Santa Fe, and that’s when we are building 15+ units. I have a couple of questions regarding the project: At $83.33 / sq. ft. (architecture article) does this figure include labor cost? How reproducible is this concept? Do you have examples of floor plans and multiunit layouts? I really appreciate your time. Thank you, Daniel , Santa Fe Community Housing Trust I have to tell you how impressed I am by what you and your students are doing with Studio 804. How does one get a Studio 804 house? Is it through CVM alone? Have you started planning for your 2006 home? I am sure this is true of tons of people, but I would love to have Studio 804 design a home/studio for us. If not a custom home, I would be interested in being in the running to purchase the next project. Matt Mills, www.MillsCollective.com Professor Dan Rockhill While looking for Architects on line to help do up some home plans for an 80 acre subdivision Im putting up in Southern Eudora, I stumbled on to your Studio 804 site. After reading all your studio has done, I was wondering if maybe, if mutually bennificial, there would be something your Studio would want to do with me. Travis Morgan I'm a great fan of you and your students' projects and have been to the open house. I am a young professional, who works in the creative industry and totally believe in modernism and urban living. I am very much like to own one of the great works of yours but I don't know how to get in? Could you point me to the right direction? I would love to be on the list. THANKS! Michael Ong
Architecture Magazine
Dwell Magazine
The New York Times