Traveling Art House
This light, mobile installation - requiring just a stepladder and a mallet for assembly, and only “1 1/2” persons - was built to showcase art at festivals.
The big, fun idea was to display art in a “house,” its post-purchase condition.
Design decisions for a conceptual aesthetic (clean, minimal, and bold) involved:
- · keeping the connections hidden
- · using the same sized wood member all around
- · keeping the large front entry open (no beams across)
- · using red fabric instead of the typical white
The structure is designed to resist up to 40mph winds using diagonal bracing, a foundation of sandbags, and by simply allowing the wind to pass through.
The upward openness also allows for natural cooling, a huge heat relief compared to the standard event booths.
Felt was selected as a “structural” fabric off of which art could be hung, which would not wrinkle.
Art Installation
Santa Clarita Festival of the Arts (Special Invitation), Santa Clarita, CA
Materials
Cedar, steel plates, steel cables & fittings, red felt, jean fabric, paint, fishing wire, sand bags
Dimensions
10′ x 10′ in plan x 12′-3″ tall
This light, mobile installation was built to showcase art at festivals.
The big, fun idea was to display art in a “house,” its post-purchase condition.
The installation was designed to be assembled by “1 1/2” people (mostly by 1 person), and only using a stepladder.
The installation was designed to be assembled by “1 1/2” people (mostly by 1 person), and just using a stepladder and a mallet.
Other booth owners remarked how much cooler this naturally ventilated “open-attic” space design was than their typical closed top, vinyl clad pavilions.
Design decisions for a conceptual aesthetic (clean, minimal, and bold) involved:
- · keeping the connections hidden
- · using the same sized wood member all around
- · keeping the large front entry open (no beams across)
- · using red fabric instead of the typical white
The structure is designed to resist up to 40mph winds using diagonal bracing, a foundation of sandbags, and by simply allowing the wind to pass through.
The upward openness also allows for natural cooling, a huge heat relief compared to the standard event booths.
Felt was selected as a “structural” fabric off of which art could be hung, that which not wrinkle.
Connections are hidden and beams are the same size all around to emphasize the conceptual aspect of the design.
Work/Credits
Design & Photos: Ioana Urma.
Engineering Check: Radu Urma.
Fabrication: Ioana Urma, with help from Vic Nahabedian (wood shop), Gerardo Bucio (steel welding), and Ramcast (steel cutting).
Site install: Ioana Urma & David Jeno.