Sharp continues the collaborative artist team of Havel Ruck Project’s (Dan Havel & Dean Ruck) exploration of sculpturally redefining condemned architecture prior to its demolition or restoration. Havel Ruck Projects obtained a fire damaged house, located in a middle income Houston neighborhood called Sharpstown, from “Seeds of Sharpstown”, an organization that collaborate with artists to host creative events using houses slated for redevelopment.
Responding to the sleek pointed design of the mid-century house, Havel Ruck sculpturally altered the original “house shaped” picture window of the façade to create a sharp-edged sculptural void that narrows as it travels 30 ft. before puncturing the back wall. The opening at the back wall is an inverted, smaller scaled house shape, which 180 degree twist is reflected in the changing pitch of the void’s ceiling and floor.
Lined with a 3ml copper foil adhered to plywood walls, the void is designed to capture the sunlight and fill the interior space with refracted light and reflections. The color and effects of the void change depending on time of day and weather conditions. The entire exterior of the house is painted black to objectify the mass in counterbalance with the copper void.
The project was visible from exterior and was open daily for public viewing prior to its imminent demolition in January 2017.
Credits:
- Havel Ruck Projects - Collaborator - Dean Ruck