Abby Returns to Rural Studio as an Alumni Speaker
Abby Davis returned to her alma mater late last month to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Rural Studio. In addition to attending, Abby was one of thirteen alumni invited to speak at the event. Each alumnus shared their career and life arcs post Rural Studio in a series of Pecha Kucha style presentations. Abby’s highlights included examples of current residential, interiors, and commercial projects. She also shared memories of her time at Rural Studio and lessons learned there that she now applies to both her personal and professional life. The positive impact of Samuel “Sambo” Mockbee’s and Andrew Freear’s mentorship was evident throughout the night of presentations.
Rural Studio is a design-build program in Hale County and part of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture of Auburn University. When Abby participated, her third year class designed and built the Sanders Dudley house out of rammed earth. She also completed her thesis project by renovating the Alabama Rural Heritage Center in Thomaston, AL. Its here that she strengthened her design skills and learned the importance of being a Citizen Architect.
The 30th-year celebration was part of the program’s annual Pig Roast, which highlights the year’s work in West Alabama. The program has come a long way since Samuel Mockbee and D.K. Ruth started Rural Studio in a small rural community hours away from Auburn University. It still continues under the same mission of teaching students that design matters and shouldn’t be exclusive. Since its inception, the program has helped build more than 200 projects in the Black Belt.