|
off-campus housing services
2008 MASH Contest
This year, we are showcasing some of the great off-campus student living spaces here in the Old Pueblo. The best submission for the M.A.S.H. Contest is on the cover, and the top three are described over the next several pages. Get inspired, and keep an eye out for next year’s M.A.S.H.!
Winners / Cover:
Laurel & David Cox, Brother and Sister. Molecular & Cellular Biology Senior and Pre-Business Sophomore
Housing: living in their family’s historic Tucson home
Transportation: Bicycle/Car
Neighborhood: Sam Hughes
OCH: Tell us about this home and its rich history.
L: Of course. This house was built by my great-grandfather, Martin Baldwin, in 1937. He fought in WWI then returned to Tucson to attend the UA in the 1920s.
D: He was a contractor who helped in the construction of several UA buildings including Centennial Hall.
OCH: Please describe some of the items in the living room.
D: The fireplace came from the old downtown Santa Rita Hotel that was demolished. The rug is from China when we lived there about 10 years ago.
OCH: How old were you when you moved to China?
L: We were 3 and 6. My older brothers were 8 and 10. We loved it there. It was a lot of fun learning to speak Chinese and wandering through the Friday markets.
OCH: Sometimes out-of-town parents buy a house for their students to live in while at school. In your case, the house goes back four generations! What is it like?
L: It’s awesome! It feels like a normal home. The great part is that our parents are living in Kazakhstan and so we still have the privacy that any student would have away from home.
OCH: Tell us about all of those pictures on the wall.
L: Those family photos go back to the 1800s.
D: And the map on the top is Tucson in the 1950s.
OCH: Anything else about this part of the house?
D: Yeah— if you look at the walls, they look like wood, but they are actually plaster shaped from wood molding. Since our grandfather worked with plaster, he was really creative with the house. He took items from buildings set to be demolished and used them here.
OCH: Could you describe the Arizona room to the readers?
L: Our mom collected the colorful glass ornaments. The windows came from a building that was demolished in 1945. It’s my favorite room in the house because it’s always warm and sunny.
OCH: So let’s talk about the backyard a little bit.
L: We just had the pool put in this summer. It’s great for barbecues on the weekend. Before there was a pool, I remember doing three-legged races in this yard. And the grapefruit trees are fabulous.
To read the rest of this article and more, download the Housing Guide.
Winner #2: The Roommates
Erin Vogel: working part time, psychology major, junior; Whitney Douglas: working part time, nursing major, sophomore nursing club; Chase Coughlin: junior, studio art [photography]; Nashelley Kaplan-Dailey: junior, political science; Bear Down Camp.
Neighborhood: Jefferson Park
OCH: So, tell us a little bit about the four of you.
E: Well, we are all from Phoenix. Whitney and I met our freshman year during sorority recruitment. All four of us lived on campus during our first year.
OCH: What was it like when you started looking for a place off-campus?
W: It was really tough. We came down from Phoenix three times before we found a place. Very tedious and time-consuming
OCH: How did you find this house?
E: Craig’s List.
OCH: Did you get your furniture from Craig’s List as well?
E: Yeah! Actually, when we got the gray couch, the man told us that he was a professional carpet cleaner and that the couch would be delivered clean. Well, it was clean except that there was a machete stuck underneath the cushions.
OCH: So, do you hang out in the front of the house much?
N: Yes, as a matter of fact, we have coffee in the mornings. In the evenings Erin will play the guitar while the rest of us do a little people watching. It’s a really active street. We see a ton of runners with dogs and bicyclists.
OCH: Can you tell us about these black and white photos above the red sofa?
W: Chase took them for a project that he did. We know all the people in the photos. He likes to photograph friends.
OCH: Who decides how to decorate the house?
N: We do it together. If fact, we like to change things around about once a month.
E: Yeah, it’s really fun and a great bonding experience. All four of us are easy going, so there are never any hard feelings.
OCH: What’s the history on that red sofa?
E: Well my brother used to have it when he was attending NAU. Prior to that, my grandfather had it in his law firm back east.
N: It’s not very good for overnight guests though.
To read the rest of this article and more, download the Housing Guide.
MASH Winner #3: Transfer Student
Brandon McBrien, architecture major
Housing: Rents an apartment close to UA
Neighborhood: Rincon Heights
Transportation: Bicycle/Car
OCH: Who uses that bike, you or your roommate?
B: It’s mine. I use it every other day. I walk on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I have to carry a really big portfolio. I do ride it a lot, but I have a car too.
OCH: A car as well?
B: Well, I bought the car before I came to Tucson. When I heard about the parking issues, I bought a bike.
OCH: How long have you been at the UA?
B: I’m a transfer student. I lived in California where I went to school and then worked full time for a while. Then I decided to apply to 12 different universities and UA was in my top three choices. It’s funny though because when I got off the airplane the first thing I thought was “No way am I coming here!”
OCH: So, what changed your mind?
B: As soon as I stepped on the UA campus I felt at home. When I was applying, I remember everyone being so nice. This campus has great architecture and a great sense of community.
OCH: Could you tell us what it was like to look for a place to live once you decided to come here?
B: The first time visited Tucson, I came with my mother and we hired someone to do a city tour for us. We wrote down every place that looked interesting.
OCH: Why did you choose this location?
B: Because it was close to campus, it came with a dishwasher, and had a great layout. And the shelves at the entrance were a selling point.
OCH: What was important to you when you designed your living space?
B: That my apartment was livable, but simple and pleasing. So, I separated the dining and living areas by placing the couches in an ‘L’ shape. This leads to great conversations when friends are over, however, guests can still engage with the media. The windows are wall to wall, so there is a lot of light in the living area, and a great connection with the outside. The apartment came with the furniture, which is not really my style, but the arrangement and decorations are mine.
To read the rest of this article and more, download the Housing Guide.
|
