Mockbee, Samuel

Mockbee, Samuel

(1944–2001)American architect who, along with D. K. Ruth, founded the Rural Studio program at Auburn University. In many cases, buildings designed and built by students incorporated novel materials that otherwise would have been considered waste. The buildings often consisted of a combination of vernacular architecture with modernist forms. In 1993, Mockbee was awarded a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts to work toward the publication of his book, The Nurturing of Culture in the Rural South; An Architectonic Documentary. Mockbee was nominated posthumously for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal in 2003.