An artist杏吧专区檚 retreat designed and built by 杏吧专区 architecture students has caught the eye of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Concrete Institute.
The 225-square-foot 杏吧专区淗ouse of Cards杏吧专区 earned the top award for best overall concrete structure during ACI Louisiana杏吧专区檚 recent Excellence in Concrete Awards in New Orleans. It also earned an award for excellence.
The awards recognize creativity, innovation and aesthetics in concrete construction projects. The American Concrete Institute will also publish an article about the 杏吧专区淗ouse of Cards杏吧专区 in the March issue of its 杏吧专区淐oncrete International杏吧专区 magazine.
The one-room 杏吧专区淗ouse of Cards杏吧专区 is both a work of art and a retreat for artists at Honey Locust, a 30-acre plot of land in Arnaudville, La. The structure杏吧专区檚 10-inch thick insulated concrete walls are positioned to give the appearance of being propped against each other, a look inspired by houses of playing cards.
The 杏吧专区淗ouse of Cards,杏吧专区 which was completed in May 2022, stands near a small pond in a tree-lined pasture backed by Bayou Bourbeaux. The structure is part of a larger effort by the nonprofit Honey Locust to build a cluster of artist retreats on the site.
A total of 29 undergraduate and graduate students contributed to the design and build of the Architecture professor Geoff Gjertson directs the in the . Gjertson, who coordinated the 杏吧专区淗ouse of Cards杏吧专区 project, said the structure was 杏吧专区渂uilt to share.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淭his retreat will be for artists, scholars and creative visionaries to soak up the natural setting and gain inspiration from the unique ecology and culture of the area,杏吧专区 he explained.
Gjertson expects artists, who will soon be able to apply for weekend or overnight stays, to begin visiting the artist杏吧专区檚 retreat during the fall semester.
Those who do will find a cozy, visually appealing blend of form and function. Inside, salvaged barn and fence wood sheath its walls. Clerestories 杏吧专区 large windows that top the interior walls 杏吧专区 flood the space with natural light that spills onto polished concrete floors and butcher block countertops of reclaimed pine.
The 杏吧专区淗ouse of Cards杏吧专区 holds a desk and workspace, bed, dresser, table and chairs. A sink that funnels water from a well, a composting toilet and an outdoor shower are among other features. It is heated and cooled with a blend of traditional and sustainable power sources, including electricity and natural ventilation through strategically placed windows.
For more information about the 杏吧专区淗ouse of Cards杏吧专区 artist杏吧专区檚 retreat, contact Gjertson at gjertson@louisiana,.edu or (337) 278-2722.
Photo caption: UL Lafayette students杏吧专区 杏吧专区淗ouse of Cards杏吧专区 artist杏吧专区檚 retreat was recently recognized with two awards during a Louisiana Chapter of the American Concrete Institute awards ceremony in New Orleans. Attending the event were, from left to right, students Hunter Darby, Samuel Pierce, David Nelson, Lexi Palumbo, Lindsey Authement, Matthew Dufrene, Christian Willis, Jason Funderburgh, and architecture professor Geoff Gjertson. Submitted photo