Public art with lots of heart
“Open House” was a collaborative project between artist Matthew Mazzotta, The Coleman Centre for the Arts and the community of York, Alabama, USA.
At rest,“Open House” is the centrepiece sculpture in downtown York’s new public park but amazingly, it literally unfolds into a free public theatre that can seat up to 100 people.
This project reinforces the argument for the role of public art in the arenas of place-making, developing city identity and urban regeneration. It is crafted entirely using recycled materials from an old abandoned property that previously stood on the lot. Not only is this a sustainable material approach this means ”Open House” stands as a reminder of the history of this particular downtown area, the ugly included. Furthermore, it has become a symbol of the urban transformation that is taking place there. It fulfils a civic role as a meeting place for the local community and an aspiration for future development – this has been achieved at local level with a low budget using creative thinking.
The clever reconfiguration of the materials means that folded up the house has a smaller footprint than the previous structure and so the surrounds of the lot can be used as a public park, nestled between the post office and convenience store at the heart of this community.
For more information on this project it has been featured as a finalist in the Architizer A+ Awards.
Follow the link below to check out the other entries in the Architecture and Urban Transformation category and vote online now!
http://awards.architizer.com/public/voting/?cid=40
At rest,“Open House” is the centrepiece sculpture in downtown York’s new public park but amazingly, it literally unfolds into a free public theatre that can seat up to 100 people.
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| 'Open House' |
This project reinforces the argument for the role of public art in the arenas of place-making, developing city identity and urban regeneration. It is crafted entirely using recycled materials from an old abandoned property that previously stood on the lot. Not only is this a sustainable material approach this means ”Open House” stands as a reminder of the history of this particular downtown area, the ugly included. Furthermore, it has become a symbol of the urban transformation that is taking place there. It fulfils a civic role as a meeting place for the local community and an aspiration for future development – this has been achieved at local level with a low budget using creative thinking.
The clever reconfiguration of the materials means that folded up the house has a smaller footprint than the previous structure and so the surrounds of the lot can be used as a public park, nestled between the post office and convenience store at the heart of this community.
For more information on this project it has been featured as a finalist in the Architizer A+ Awards.
Follow the link below to check out the other entries in the Architecture and Urban Transformation category and vote online now!
http://awards.architizer.com/public/voting/?cid=40
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