The Down Home is an eclectic music venue in Johnson City, Tennessee. Established in 1976, it has since become a noteworthy club and the center of a mutually supportive community of people who keep the venue going while it in turn holds the community members together. Through the use of community theory, oral history theory, memorabilia, and oral history interviews, this thesis examines the way the Down Home community formed, and how it has continued to grow, develop traditions, and engage people both local and from afar. It also explores what the venue’s future may look like. While several influential figures in the club’s history have passed away, it is important to acknowledge the memories of those still living. This project documents some of the Down Home’s story as told by the venue’s community members, and it begins to fill the void where literature about the Down Home is scarce.

This thesis creates a complementarity relationship with the use of timber and concrete as primary structural and accent materials. Key elements of this thesis include (1) The development of a wood latticing system (2) Stairs that posses a strong sculptural language (3) The Lantern, a free standing lobby/box office, clad in wood and glass (4) Circulation towers that accommodate balcony seating. Studies of these elements went through many iterations resulting in over one hundred drawings. Progression of these drawings are directed to the interpretation of building form and the interaction with the site. These concepts are then implemented in the design of a multifaceted music venue located on a hillside in the New River Valley. Minutes from the college town of Blacksburg, Virginia this event complex caters to an array of musical functions. Spaces include The Lantern, which is a multipurpose lobby/lounge, the main auditorium, and an outdoor amphitheater. / Master of Architecture