The Pinehills Project
Architecture Instructor: Ali Reza Shahbazin
Curriculum Advisor: Simone Evans
Special Projects Coordinator: Jessica Levine
The Pinehills, a classic New England village in Plymouth, Massachusetts, was a practical case study for my students. During a visit to historic Plymouth, they worked on an architectural challenge, aiming to find an optimal site for a residential project that seamlessly incorporates nature, ensures privacy, and provides scenic views. Guided by the question proposed to students by the founder of The Pinehills, Tony Green, “Where should the house be?” the students explored various design possibilities on-site.
Views and Trees
“When I was a teenager, my father, a homebuilder, would take me walking through the woods, asking, 'Where's the house?' He wanted me to consider the best location that preserved nature for optimal views and privacy,” recalls Tony. Guided by this philosophy, I prepared students for an EXPLO architectural challenge, teaching architectural fundamentals and facilitating a three-week course. After exploring the site with Tony, we spent two weeks at Yale crafting designs and models. The students presented their work at the Green Art Gallery, Yale School of Art.
Selected Works (First Session):
The Lake House
Showcased in The Yale School of Art Gallery, 2018
The Lake House
Showcased in The Yale School of Art Gallery, 2018
EXPLO at Yale 2018 Architecture Session 1 Pinehills Presentations
Session Two:
EXPLO at Yale 2018 Architecture Session 2 Pinehills Presentations