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Ethan Rothermel

Ethan Rothermel

Chicago, IL, US

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Akron Coffee Roasters + Sweet Designs Bakery
Akron Coffee Roasters + Sweet Designs Bakery
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Akron Coffee Roasters + Sweet Designs Bakery

WikiHouse is an open-source architecture project to develop CNC milled houses that anyone can download the files for and make themselves.

BetterBlocks is a nonprofit that aims to empower the communities in which it works to reshape and reactivate built environments to promote the growth of healthy and vibrant neighborhoods.

WikiBlocks is a combination of these ideas, empowering the community through open-source designs in order to reactivate the built environment.

For this project the studio worked with BetterBlocks to develop temporary structures for local businesses to set up shop in for the weekend event. Using standard sized 3/4” plywood all of the structure’s pieces are made using a CNC mill. I developed a storefront for Akron Coffee Roasters. A faceted counter wraps around the chassis and up the side of the structure next to it. The facets fold back over to form a canopy. Gaps between the triangular facets are left intentionally in order to allow light to shine through from the inside of the counter.

The storefronts were all built with the help of the community the day before the event. Furniture and other streetscape elements were CNC milled for the event.

 
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Status: Built
Location: Cuyahoga Falls, OH, US
My Role: Lead Designer/Constructor
Additional Credits: Design and construction help from Christian Ford and under the guidance of Brian Peters