new favorite word

Earlier today, I checked my U email. Good thing, too. A message from my studio instructor had an assignment for the first day of class. We have been asked to prepare a five-minute presentation featuring a photo or artifact that means “home” to us. Then we’re going to do a design charrette, which will be a major component of our studio learning. “Charrette” has just become my new favorite word.

Last semester, in architectural history, I learned that a charrette was the intense period of work leading up to the completion of an assignment. I have also heard the word used in conjunction with design problems or competitions that are finished during a prescribed time period. It sounds intense and a little scary. Wikipedia offers this definition:  

The word charrette may refer to any collaborative session in which a group of designers drafts a solution to a design problem. While the structure of a charrette varies, depending on the design problem and the individuals in the group, charrettes often take place in multiple sessions in which the group divides into sub-groups. Each sub-group then presents its work to the full group as material for future dialogue. Such charrettes serve as a way of quickly generating a design solution while integrating the aptitudes and interests of a diverse group of people. Compare this term with workshop.

The word also refers to a sustained work period. A collaborative session with my studio group could be a challenging and possibly exciting way to work. I’m looking forward to learning more about our instructor’s intentions with charrettes.