There’s a party vibe at the far end of the John Jay Gallery! Instead of an empty landing, teachers and students are gathered around comfy seating and a game table. The walls are hung with blueprints and elevations, even a jig, offering an arty backdrop to the pop-up event.
Welcome to Architecture 1’s Showcase and Classgiving! The students and guests are celebrating the completion of one of the class’s signature projects: to design and build furniture out of cardboard, using no tape or glue.
“By going from a blank slate to a finished useful piece of furniture, via miniature models and drawings, students learn the basics of architecture,” said teacher Annabelle Rolland.
At first, guests are reticent to sit on the cardboard casual chair and stool.
“This chair will hold anyone,” said Teddy, one of the students who designed the chair. He sits on it to demonstrate.
Charles and David designed a standing desk, sized for Assistant Principal Kim Piccolino. Rolland points out its elegant design. Piccolino points out its portability. She can move it from her desk to the floor, and then it becomes a table. It even folds up for easy storage.
The sophomore and junior architecture students offer visitors insight into the cardboard furniture’s strength and sturdiness. “It is because of the slit and slot construction,” said Carys and Ace, taking apart their model table to show how pieces fit together.
The artisanal aspect of the unit speaks to many of the students.
“I like coming to class and making stuff,” said George.
“Once you start making something, you keep thinking about it and looking forward to coming back the next day,” said Kiki.
“We made models first,” said Carys, who created a table. “That’s where all of the trial and error happened.”
The bell rang, signaling the end of the party. Some of the last to leave: Assistant Principals Samir Biswas and Mallory McDonald, and teacher Amy Geiger, who sat at the cardboard game table, playing chess.
