Category Archives: Background

Symbols have been around for a long time. Past cultures have embedded special meaning and spiritual significance into various symbols. We have been discovering these over time and the lasting symbols are those that were left by previous cultures in the form of art. The art has taken the form of pictographs, petroglyphs, images placed on pottery, patterns woven into fabrics and symbols carved on various surfaces.

The Visitor Center design has utilized much of the symbolism, philosophy and culture of the Chickasaw Nation. This symbolism has been incorporated subtly and boldly both inside and outside the project. Perhaps the most bold and graphic statement is incorporated into a functional element on the site. Continue reading →

Chukma (welcome)

We have been discussing the Visitor Center project now for over a year and reviewing the progress of the construction for the past 6 months. But it’s easy to lose sight over what the project is about and who it’s for. I thought we would refresh ourselves on both of these subjects.

Who is the project for… Continue reading →

All the players are invited, the agenda is set and the charrette room is reserved; now we need to set the stage for the event. To have a really good charrette, you need to prepare yourselves and the attendees so that the maximum exchange of information, dialogue and ideas can occur. Continue reading →

Charrette; architects love this word, but you can’t find it in the typical dictionary.

It’s used in the academic teaching environment as a cool vernacular term we are introduced to as students.  It is sometimes associated with a rite of passage known to students as pulling all nighters. I have vivid college memories of my third year design lab and grueling hours dedicated to searching for the lofty meaning of life embodied in my design only to be put back into a humbling place on critique day.

(new post each Tuesday, coming next; The Paso Doble of Programming, Charrette Day) Continue reading →

A project begins with an idea. Firmly planted, the idea becomes a seed that grows ever stronger into a dream of increasing passion. The sowing process can take the form of sharing the idea with key players to gain support both in terms of solidifying and justifying the need and supporting the idea financially. If support is great and the passion strong, the dream becomes a vision that is ripe for advancing. All of my discussions with the leadership of the Chickasaw Nation tell me we are ready to move forward.

(new post every Tuesday. Coming Next; Anatomy of a “Charrette”, The Exchange of Ideas) Continue reading →