Welcome to the Archive of lost crafts.

Site: New Haven, CT

Critic: Michael Szivos

Yale University has a wide range of collections either donated to or acquired by the university over the years. The Archive of Lost Crafts uses a collection in the Art History department to connect Yale to its community by providing skill training programs and creating job opportunities for both students and other community members.The archive provides six-month artist residency programs for traditional craftsmen around the world. It aims to create an economic ecosystem to preserve folk crafts that are disappearing because of mass production, as well as the cultural identities that the craft objects embody. The archive has temporary living spaces for craftsmen and trainees, workshops, an education center, a gallery, and a store. The circulation and free plan of the archive is designed to accommodate the life cycle different types of crafts, as the specific program changes regularly.The living space for trainees occupy the landscaped roof. The village living creates a sense of community for its residents and visitors. To protect the trainees’ privacy, the private and public space are separated. Visitors can access the gallery, the education center, and the store, but can only view the workshop and living spaces from the outside.