New Book Documents Blackwell’s 'Architecture of the Ozarks’

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A mobile home, a candy-colored silo and lush Ozark vistas grace the first pages of the new book on Marlon Blackwell, “An Architecture of the Ozarks,” recently published by Princeton Architectural Press. In his work and now in his book, Blackwell celebrates both the natural beauty and what he describes as “the good, the bad and the ugly” buildings of northwest Arkansas, where he lives, builds and teaches at the University of Arkansas School of Architecture.

“This land of disparate conditions is not just a setting for my work — it is part of the work,” Blackwell wrote. “In these conditions I do not see a negative, but instead, a source of deep possibilities.” 

Marlon Blackwell will sign copies of his new book from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 4144 N. College Ave., Fayetteville. He will present a lecture titled “Building Between,” followed by a book signing, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, at the Arkansas Arts Center, located at 9th and Commerce in Little Rock’s MacArthur Park.

Touted as a “radical ruralist” by the Royal Institute of British Architects, Blackwell has built an international reputation by transforming the ordinary into something entirely new. One can trace the influence of Springdale’s chicken feed elevators on the Keenan TowerHouse, an 80-foot-tall private aerie in east Fayetteville. The hybrid BarnHouse in Wedington recalls utilitarian farm structures, its concrete block and metal cladding elevated to art by extensive glazing and the rhythmic symmetry of honey-colored fir detailing. In every case, Blackwell’s response to the environment is guided by the passions of his clients, resulting in highly personalized, idiosyncratic architecture.

The book features nine beautifully photographed projects ranging from Blackwell’s first residential design to recent more public spaces such as the Fred and Mary Smith Razorback Golf Center, an austere form punctuated by bands of windows and enriched by dry stacked stone and copper cladding.

“Many public buildings are rendered in a banal, nostalgic way. We’re offering a no-nonsense alternative to how one might build,” Blackwell said.

Blackwell also included a squat “bull frog house” and other fanciful house prototypes developed early in his career. 

“It’s important for architects to begin to develop a line of inquiry, even when they don’t have clients. The prototypes gave me a starting point, and the ideas embodied in these projects have surfaced in many of our built projects,” he said.

Three essays by David Buege, Dan Hoffman, and Juhani Pallasmaa explore the evolution of Blackwell’s style and chronicle his personal mythology. The son of an Air Force master sergeant, Blackwell was born in Germany and grew up near Air Force bases in the Philippines, Alabama, Florida, Colorado and Montana. He has worked as a day laborer, disc jockey and Bible salesman.  He once wrestled a bear (and lost). He worked in Lafayette, La., and Boston and studied in Florence, Italy, before coming to the University of Arkansas in 1992.

“The School of Architecture has been very supportive in giving me time to develop my practice, as well as the opportunity to teach, which keeps you honest. Students can be pretty tough critics!” Blackwell said.

“Our students benefit immeasurably from the opportunity to study with Marlon Blackwell, who is an outstanding teacher and critic as well as an innovative designer. This book demonstrates to them and others that good architecture can happen outside of New York City, Los Angeles, London and Tokyo,” said Jeff Shannon, dean of the School of Architecture.