La Penita Community Center
Interior Design Students Team Up with Mexican Village for Community Center
Interior Design Students Team Up with Mexican Village for Community Center
"Regateo"
"Price Bargaining" - The Mexican custom of price bargaining in "Mercados - Open Air Markets" is one of the most fundamental and enjoyable facets of Mexican culture; an opportunity to transform the rather mundane task of buying something into an enjoyable interaction between two people, demonstrating ones' knowledge and bargaining ability.
"Price Bargaining" - The Mexican custom of price bargaining in "Mercados - Open Air Markets" is one of the most fundamental and enjoyable facets of Mexican culture; an opportunity to transform the rather mundane task of buying something into an enjoyable interaction between two people, demonstrating ones' knowledge and bargaining ability.
Interior Design students at The New England Institute of Art cross cultures to work with citizens of a Mexican village on plans to create new Community Center. Reuse - Recycle- Reclaim drives project.
What do Interior Design students at Brookline’s New England Institute of Art (NEiA) have in common with a sleepy Mexican village? Thanks to adjunct faculty member Deborah Drew, a shared passion to create a community center.
Deb Drew, who winters in the village of La Penita de Jaltemba, on the west coast of Mexico was attracted to the town for its blending of people with many cultural personalities. She also was drawn by the sense of community and common desires to help La Penita through its growing pains and daily struggles. “We love the town the way it is,” says Drew, but we want to help and do so by making suggestions and backing them up by stressing the importance of recycling, opening the mangroves for fresh water, by providing a few scholarships and building Eco-parks.”
While back in Brookline, Drew, who teaches Interior Design at NEiA, approached her students about taking on a project to help La Penita reach its long-time dream. The center’s design, to benefit everyone from children to the elderly was quickly embraced.
The site is an existing basketball court with two smaller buildings adjacent to the town plaza. Drew brushed off her architectural skills and laid out the program based on what she knew her townsfolk in Mexico wanted. “The project is large; as long and as deep as a 15-story building lying on its side,” says Drew. “I did the base work and then handed it off to the students.”
Each student is concentrating on a specific area. One is creating a yoga studio which impacts another student’s design for the main event area. Another is incorporating a tire wall that abuts the gift shop. The reclaimed tires used on one side create a wall, while on the opposite side those tires are carved into storage spaces. The Center will include an indoor/outdoor play area, an arts and crafts room, a library and reading room, changing room, public restrooms, a commercial kitchen and permanent dining area. The main event area will be able to host up to 300 guests from annual fundraisers to monthly local meetings. There is also a large area dedicated to receiving and organizing recycled items delivered by the townspeople.
Throughout the entire process, the students have corresponded with people in La Penita. “This is a rare opportunity for students to not only design a space, but to work with people of another culture with different needs and desires,” says Drew. “They have worked day and night and gladly attended a weekend class, spending all day Sunday working on the project.” The actual building of the facility may be years away, as Drew and her fellow La Penita residents work to raise the funds, but the groundwork will be laid. “I hope to continue the project in future classes,” adds Drew.
The progress of the student’s work can be tracked on the Community Center response link on Jaltemba Jalapeno.
The New England Institute of Art Institute is one of The Art Institutes; a system of over 45 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.
Check in on Facebook for updates, and follow the students progress at La Penita's Community Center
What do Interior Design students at Brookline’s New England Institute of Art (NEiA) have in common with a sleepy Mexican village? Thanks to adjunct faculty member Deborah Drew, a shared passion to create a community center.
Deb Drew, who winters in the village of La Penita de Jaltemba, on the west coast of Mexico was attracted to the town for its blending of people with many cultural personalities. She also was drawn by the sense of community and common desires to help La Penita through its growing pains and daily struggles. “We love the town the way it is,” says Drew, but we want to help and do so by making suggestions and backing them up by stressing the importance of recycling, opening the mangroves for fresh water, by providing a few scholarships and building Eco-parks.”
While back in Brookline, Drew, who teaches Interior Design at NEiA, approached her students about taking on a project to help La Penita reach its long-time dream. The center’s design, to benefit everyone from children to the elderly was quickly embraced.
The site is an existing basketball court with two smaller buildings adjacent to the town plaza. Drew brushed off her architectural skills and laid out the program based on what she knew her townsfolk in Mexico wanted. “The project is large; as long and as deep as a 15-story building lying on its side,” says Drew. “I did the base work and then handed it off to the students.”
Each student is concentrating on a specific area. One is creating a yoga studio which impacts another student’s design for the main event area. Another is incorporating a tire wall that abuts the gift shop. The reclaimed tires used on one side create a wall, while on the opposite side those tires are carved into storage spaces. The Center will include an indoor/outdoor play area, an arts and crafts room, a library and reading room, changing room, public restrooms, a commercial kitchen and permanent dining area. The main event area will be able to host up to 300 guests from annual fundraisers to monthly local meetings. There is also a large area dedicated to receiving and organizing recycled items delivered by the townspeople.
Throughout the entire process, the students have corresponded with people in La Penita. “This is a rare opportunity for students to not only design a space, but to work with people of another culture with different needs and desires,” says Drew. “They have worked day and night and gladly attended a weekend class, spending all day Sunday working on the project.” The actual building of the facility may be years away, as Drew and her fellow La Penita residents work to raise the funds, but the groundwork will be laid. “I hope to continue the project in future classes,” adds Drew.
The progress of the student’s work can be tracked on the Community Center response link on Jaltemba Jalapeno.
The New England Institute of Art Institute is one of The Art Institutes; a system of over 45 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.
Check in on Facebook for updates, and follow the students progress at La Penita's Community Center
Los Ayala
La Penita Community Center
La Penita Community Center
Magical
October 2011 Update
Excerpt from High-Profile Monthly, Brookline, MA
“Even though the actual building of the community center is over a year away, it is now time to buckle down and get serious,” said Drew. “My students have been working on this project for three semesters now and the ideas are piling up – it will be great to see them unleashed.”
“The plan is summer and fall 2012 commercial design students will design for a targeted final site with a specific Program of Needs (PON),” sums up Drew. The initial design phase of this community center project began in the summer and fall of 2010 with groups of commercial design students working as a team for a specific site. Until a building/site has been selected, this year’s commercial design students are currently working modularly.
Professor Drew assigned a modular system for PON using a 15 x 7.5 meter rectangle. For each module the student is required to design, a lobby, library, physical fitness studio, esthetician school, food service area and child care center. These program components are in addition to last year’s student program design requirements. “Which, by the way, for my last year’s students, are still on record,” winks Drew.
Winter 2013 interior design internship students will travel to Mexico and culminate ideas from previous student work into a single design. Construction on the actual center will follow. Future interns have the opportunity to work on the project until the community center is complete.
Excerpt from High-Profile Monthly, Brookline, MA
“Even though the actual building of the community center is over a year away, it is now time to buckle down and get serious,” said Drew. “My students have been working on this project for three semesters now and the ideas are piling up – it will be great to see them unleashed.”
“The plan is summer and fall 2012 commercial design students will design for a targeted final site with a specific Program of Needs (PON),” sums up Drew. The initial design phase of this community center project began in the summer and fall of 2010 with groups of commercial design students working as a team for a specific site. Until a building/site has been selected, this year’s commercial design students are currently working modularly.
Professor Drew assigned a modular system for PON using a 15 x 7.5 meter rectangle. For each module the student is required to design, a lobby, library, physical fitness studio, esthetician school, food service area and child care center. These program components are in addition to last year’s student program design requirements. “Which, by the way, for my last year’s students, are still on record,” winks Drew.
Winter 2013 interior design internship students will travel to Mexico and culminate ideas from previous student work into a single design. Construction on the actual center will follow. Future interns have the opportunity to work on the project until the community center is complete.