Honorable Mention has been awarded to project “[Re] Active and Eco-Resort,” in the 2013 Fabric in Architecture competition sponsored by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. This project was designed by MArch students Lee Eckert, Amy Fisher, Erik Herman and Anna Kindt in ARCH 584 intermediate design studio under the direction of Assistant Professor Mark Donofrio.

“The goal of the studio was to explore the use of fabric in architecture, identifying how fabric structures might be used in the design of a resort in a sensitive Oregon wilderness area and resulting in the design of a 70,000 square-foot resort,” said Donofrio.

Fisher, Eckert, Herman and Kindt chose the central location of White Salmon, Washington, which offers a glimpse into many of the diverse environments of the Columbia River Gorge. In their narrative explaining the process and intentions for the project, they wrote:

“This proposal for the White Salmon Eco-resort acknowledges and embraces both the changing environmental conditions and commonly enjoyed activities of the Columbia River Gorge. The design embraces the kinetic nature of fabric to create innovative architecture that directly responds to the activities and climate of the region as well as fulfills the needs of the users. This location makes it extremely popular for a variety of activities throughout the year. In the summer, sailing, swimming, and wind surfing are commonly enjoyed. In the spring and fall, fishing, hiking, skiing, and cycling take on a greater significance, while in the winter, sports such as skiing and snowshoeing are popular.

“Our project locates permanent structures, such as the lobby and restaurant, toward the northern end of the site. These structures provide year-round access to the White Salmon Eco Resort, while also providing adaptive spaces that can be enjoyed in different seasons, by different users and by users who came to enjoy different activities. Less permanent spaces, such as the boathouse and market, adapt and expand to accommodate population increases during times of increased activity on the site.”

According to the competition website, the criteria for the judging of submissions included fabric as a primary material, creative and innovative use of fabric in the design solution, successful response of the design to its surrounding context, and successful response to basic architectural concepts such as human activity needs, structural integrity, and coherence of architectural vocabulary.

See the gallery of work here.

Story by Amy Pinkston