Journal
As we build Thoreau’s house with our hands a few primitive tools, we are building a house for Pingree Stickers. It is a symbol of our permanent love and appreciation for the woods, fresh air, and slightly unconventional learning. We’re motivated by the students and faculty’s (Ms. Steinert in particular) engagement in Thoreau’s message.
Thoreau loved nature and cared deeply about preserving it. His house on Walden pond and houses like it reflect the virtue of the minds which built them. It doesn’t matter if the blueprints call for a square box, the hard work that goes into such habitations ultimately shine through. This explains why the mentality of modern generations, whom Berry would say mostly consists of “Boomers”, is reflected in the ugliness of our mass produced, architecturally boring buildings. The U.S., being a relatively young country, is actually home to a lot of “bigger-the-better”, unsustainable architecture. We have acquired the vulgar mind that Forster refers to in Howard’s End, one that is “thrilled by bigness.”
It’s hard to see this in a beautiful town like South Hamilton, MA, but no more than a twenty minute drive and you’ll run into a massive “space-heater” building that brings into question the environmental consciousness of the architect and the rich man who hired him.
As we build Thoreau’s house with our hands a few primitive tools, we are building a house for Pingree Stickers. It is a symbol of our permanent love and appreciation for the woods, fresh air, and slightly unconventional learning. We’re motivated by the students and faculty’s (Ms. Steinert in particular) engagement in Thoreau’s message.
Thoreau loved nature and cared deeply about preserving it. His house on Walden pond and houses like it reflect the virtue of the minds which built them. It doesn’t matter if the blueprints call for a square box, the hard work that goes into such habitations ultimately shine through. This explains why the mentality of modern generations, whom Berry would say mostly consists of “Boomers”, is reflected in the ugliness of our mass produced, architecturally boring buildings. The U.S., being a relatively young country, is actually home to a lot of “bigger-the-better”, unsustainable architecture. We have acquired the vulgar mind that Forster refers to in Howard’s End, one that is “thrilled by bigness.”
It’s hard to see this in a beautiful town like South Hamilton, MA, but no more than a twenty minute drive and you’ll run into a massive “space-heater” building that brings into question the environmental consciousness of the architect and the rich man who hired him.
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