Found in a pile of tires, soon a polished and shiny clean chrome shape, that demonstrated a Mart Stam cantilever chair.  In another obscure corner there’s a pile of Maid of Honor Amish quilting looms. Cut to size and made to join a shiny chrome frame.

Sink basin pedestal and cabinet built from reclaimed antique chestnut oak and salvaged heart pine, stained with butcher block oil and beeswax finish sealer.

Photos by Derek Trimble   www.derektrimble.com

Located in Sterrett, Alabama,  is Maple Valley Nursery.  Besides the multiple greenhouses, the farm’s built structures consist of a 1940s red barn and farmhouse. My job was to design a plan for future use of the house and barn, as well as demo and rebuild a new barn roof  and bring new life to farm house exterior.

The Crawfords are a family of eleven strong, with 6 girls and 3 boys ranging in ages from 8 weeks to 17 years old.  On April 27^th, 2011 their home on Shoal Creek Road, in Ashville, AL, was completely leveled by the same tornado that plowed through Tuscaloosa and Northwest Birmingham.

Thirty-seven friends and neighbors from the Valley had taken refuge in the Crawfords’ basement to find safe shelter that evening.  In Shoal Creek Valley, thirteen people–some of whom were friends of the Crawfords, perished that afternoon during  the storm.  Amazingly, everyone who had taken shelter with the Crawfords were spared from the storm, only to find the house completely missing from it’s concrete foundation above them.

I have had the great opportunity to meet some of these strong families who have lost everything, including family members. They are an inspiring group of committed neighbors who truly understand the meaning of ‘community’, and share in each others’ victories and losses.  It’s a rare thing to witness, and a humbling experience for me personally.  In the coming months, I will be working closely with the Crawfords to design a new home in order for them to begin to re-build their lives.  Taking into account the needs of all their children will be interesting, as I’ve never designed a home for a family this large.  I will be posting updates of their progress, and look forward to the challenge and the experience.  If you would like to read more about the Crawfords’ story, please visit Kelly Crawford’s website for more info and ways to help.

www.generationcedar.com

- michael

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