Category: Uncategorized

Forge, Build, Return: A Sustainable Design Retreat

Join us in Bluff for a transformative weekend dedicated to the art of sustainable living and creative reuse. This isn’t just an event; it’s an invitation to rethink how we interact with the world around us.

Our upcoming retreat, “Forge, Build, Return,” explores the principles of Zero-Waste living through the practical lenses of design and architecture. We’re moving beyond theory and getting our hands dirty—literally. Together, we will reclaim construction debris and plastic waste, breathing new life into discarded materials by transforming them into meaningful art.

Read MoreEvent invitation: Hands-on “Zero Waste” weekend in Bluff (March 2026)

Join DesignBuildUTAH@Bluff Co-Director Hiroko for an architectural journey from Tokyo to Wajima. Open to students, alumni, and the general public (18+), this course explores the intersection of modern design and tradition.

Read MoreHands-on Japan trip in summer 2026: now enrolling by Feb 15!

We are honored to reveal the newest residential project from 2025 DBU@Bluff. This year, 11 students dedicated two semesters (design in the summer and construction in the fall) to successfully complete a home named “Kinform – K’é éí hólǫ́.” 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.

Read MoreCompletion of “Kinform – K’é éí hólǫ́” house

Thank you to the families and friends of the current students for coming to the site to support us. We appreciate your cooperation as strong supporters of each student, including your help with transporting materials to the site. In particular, Mike, a student’s father and an Electrician, provided immense support, from the electrical work to the donation of materials.

Read MoreProject update

In the final push of December, we will proceed with the cabinet installation, which student Tom has been preparing since summer. The interior will move on to painting, tiling, and plasterwork. Aimee’s preparations for the engawa (veranda) door will be finished, the water catchment (greywater system) will be installed, and we will install the rammed earth wall and stove, whose finishes we are eagerly anticipating. check the flooring ideas and samples.

Read MoreComing up !

Hey everyone!

As we push through the final stages of the project, we’re pausing to take a huge breath and recognize something essential: This house, this experience, and this whole project wouldn’t be half of what it is without one crucial thing: YOU.

Read MoreThe Secret Ingredient: A Huge Thank You to Our Incredible Community!

In the DesignBuildUTAH@Bluff class, it’s not just about construction work. We value opportunities to experience the local landscape, culture, and history during our stay in Bluff. We primarily use weekends for what we call “sketch classes,” visiting various places and making experimental samples based on the inspiration we find.

In October, with the support of Monument Valley Safari, we participated in an in-depth tour of Monument Valley. This was especially meaningful as we are working directly in front of Monument Valley every day this year, making it a tour full of learning about the significance of this place. Thank you, Monument Valley Safari!

Read MoreMonument Valley tour!

During the fall semester, seven undergraduate students came to Bluff to participate in a one-week program. They camped in tents on campus during their stay. The first day was orientation, after which they immediately started making rammed earth wall samples for the project.

Read MoreFall break DesignBuildUTAH@BLuff class

We’ve officially reached the halfway point of this year’s project! The roofs are on both structures, and we recently held a “Topping Off Celebration” with the home-recipient families. It was a truly moving moment, sharing the joy of this milestone together under a brand-new roof.

So much has happened in the last six months. In this update, we want to introduce the incredible donors and volunteers who have supported our journey so far.

Read MoreA Toast! Our Mid-Project Celebration and the Circle of Support

Calling all DBU@B alumni—we need your voice!

We are supporting our friend Coline Madelaine, a French architect and researcher who is conducting Ph.D. research on the global impact of hands-on architectural education. Her work focuses specifically on the history and influence of our program!

Read MoreA Special Request for Our Alumni