Through the DesignBuildUTAH@Bluff program, School of Architecture students completed the K’é éí hólǫ́ House for a single mother and her child, transforming vision into shelter and collaboration for the community. This milestone marks the program’s 25th residential project, a testament to years of hands-on learning and meaningful impact beyond the many additional projects that have expanded shared spaces for local communities and University of Utah students alike.
Under the direction of Assistant Professor Atsushi Yamamoto and Assistant Professor Hiroko Yamamoto, DesignBuildUTAH@Bluff 11 Architecture students dedicated a semester to planning the build and relocated to Bluff during their fall semester to begin construction. This process creates a significant opportunity for students to learn more about their craft through direct engagement with materials, clients, and the realities of construction in a real-world context.

Building with Integrity

Every aspect of the project was selected with intentionality, given the constraints of building in Bluff, specifically limited labor and a tight academic schedule. The students prioritized systems that balanced structural integrity with resource efficiency. The region’s predominantly off-grid lifestyle was also a key consideration, influencing the integration of durable piping systems and carefully chosen building materials designed to preserve the structure and withstand local weather conditions. To address limited water access, rainwater catchment systems were incorporated to support efficient irrigation, allowing for a more sustainable and self-sufficient use of the site. One of the program’s students, Thomas Stankowski, highlights the impact of such a fruitful project.

“To be able to shape, both with design and through construction, the spaces that will shape the most important moments in a person’s life, we were able to get to know so intimately, is something I’ll cherish the rest of my life.”

             

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An open house was held over winter break to commemorate the completion of the project, celebrating the completion of semesters’ worth of hard work and highlighting the lifelong impact this experience will have on both the students and the recipient family.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our donors, financial supporters, and numerous volunteers—including alumni—as well as pro bono contributors, the students’ families and friends, the Navajo Nation, the Bluff local community, and the 11 students who devoted their full efforts to this project. – Hiroko Yamamoto (DBU@Bluff Co-Director)

DesignBuildUTAH@Bluff is a graduate architecture program within the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Utah, dedicated to immersing students in hands-on, cross-cultural experiences. We work in partnership with the Rural and Native communities of San Juan County in the Utah Four Corners.
To check out the program’s past work, visit designbuildutah.org
To learn more about the School of Architecture and other programs they offer, visit architecture@utah.edu