On October 20, United Housing’s Anna Gattuso and Amy
Schaftlein visited Jenna Thompson’s Architecture and Interior Design Studio at
the University of Memphis to review the initial set of designs nine students
had created for our NeighborScape Demonstration Garden. Based
on feedback from a jury composed of Anna, Amy and Kalki Winter, the students
then updated their design boards and presented the final pieces to us on
October 24 in our Homebuyer Education classroom, where the boards will remain
on display.
During the Spring 2015 semester, elements of the students’ designs
will go into a composite design created by Jenna’s graduate assistant. Once finalized,
the team will focus on the building phase of the garden during the 2015 summer
gardening season.
In addition to being beneficial to United Housing and our
Homebuyer Education clients, this project also greatly benefits the University
of Memphis Architecture Department and the community as a whole.
“What I love most about the NeighborScape project is its
potential to provide sustainable landscape techniques to individuals who will
benefit from economic savings and take pride in where they live,” said Jenna.
“The ability for all socio-economic levels to learn about sustainable
landscaping and gardening provides opportunities to reduce water usage, improve
home values and provide food options. This knowledge has the ability to empower
homeowners by providing greater understanding of the environment and how a
healthy and beautiful home creates healthy and happy inhabitants.”
The project will teach Jenna’s students specific real-life
lessons, which can be difficult to communicate in a classroom setting.
“This project will provide hands-on experience with clients
who have everyday needs and a budget,” Jenna said. “It is critical that design
education provide more than theoretical knowledge by introducing students to
real design issues such as sustainable landscaping.”
