|
About Rob and Kerrie
Originally from Bellingham, Washington, Rob has been living and building in Ithaca since 2001. But building wasn’t his first career. Rob earned a B.A. in Education and Art at W. Washington University. He worked as a classroom teacher for several years but eventually found that he preferred... “a more active and outdoors lifestyle…" In the early 90’s, he developed an off-the-grid homestead in northern
California. Rob turned his (then) hobby of renovating and building into his full-time work, and has been busy building since.
During his seven years in northern California, Rob worked on the creation of a number of off-the-grid homesteads. “We were in a pretty remote location, we ran our power tools on solar energy and used cut-to-order lumber from the local mill down the way! We had to be resourceful, both with tools and materials, and we built some beautiful places.”
Ever since building full-time, Rob has occasionally found himself working with homeowners and other small groups, facilitating their participation in their own building projects. “Many adults have never had the opportunity to build something with their own hands. It’s pretty neat to be involved in that sort of teaching experience.
In Ithaca, Rob was one of the leaders in the creation of the new homes and other structures in the second neighborhood group (SONG) of
EcoVillage at Ithaca, “Those homes all received ENERGY STAR certification giving home-owners financial rebates right away and lower annual energy costs year after year.” Rob says that as a builder he aims to be both pragmatist and artist. He feels blessed to have lived and worked in such inspiring natural environments, from the San Juan Islands and Cascade mountains of Washington to the Redwoods of northern California, And since 2001 the
Fingerlakes region. “I take my inspiration from nature looking for ways to bring its’ beauty and essence indoors. In my opinion there is no reason why a living space can’t be inspiring and comfortable, and at the same time efficient, affordable and gentle on the environment. That’s what I strive for!”
Rob lives with his partner Amanda, and children Talya, and Cedar and their dog Gaia in a 1,000 square foot home he and Kerrie built.
Kerrie was trained in fine arts in Philadelphia, obtaining a B.F.A.
in painting. She spent a decade involved in various retail
experiences in Philly, from selling flowers in Reading Terminal
Market, to supervisor at Whole Foods Market.
She and her husband Scott decided to make a new life in the geographically beautiful Finger Lakes, namely Ithaca. Coincidentally, Kerrie and Scott moved into the same apartment building Rob Champion was living in upon his arrival from California. Looking for a new vocational direction, Kerrie accepted an offer from Rob to help in building the first duplex of the second neighborhood group (SONG) at
EcoVillage at Ithaca. This was her first experience in building, and she found it came very easily to her.
After that first house, Kerrie became an important part of the general construction crew, getting involved in all phases of the construction process and learning about green building. When the opportunity arose to learn to install tile, Kerrie took to it naturally. Before long, she found herself in demand to not only install, but also to design custom tile projects in many of the new homes in
EcoVillage. She spent the final year of her two-and-a-half years working at
EcoVillage, focusing entirely on tile design and installation. In 2004 Kerrie and Scott decided to purchase their own home. They found an older home in Ithaca, and went on to convert some of its features to be more energy efficient, and refinished it with low toxicity products.
Kerrie who has worked full time with Rob since 2005 has always been interested in beauty being an essential element in one’s everyday environment, Kerrie has found that building offers a concrete way to help others realize a space that reflects their own sense of what is beautiful and uniquely theirs.
|
