Adam Kalkin's Quik Build Kit House

bjorn · Joined: 13 Dec 2003 Posts: 25

Just wanted to put this one back where it belongs: sorry fabadmin. It's kinda cool though that I can do something you can't. Though I'm sure you could find away to revoke my registration and delete my posts if you cared to.

I don't think I'm the only one being "played" by Kalkin. I just hope he doesn't bluff his way into scewing up the "modern prefab" movement.

I think there is a huge danger to the public when architecture is conceived, produced and sold as "Art", especially when it's being peddled to the public ala Jones, Kalkin, and even our friend Lufos as being socially, environmentally, economically and spatially friendly.

This is the State of the Art, people:

And here's an excerpt I pulled off Kalkin's own website which I think describes it well. Better than I could, anyway. bolding by me:

"The houses that Kalkin builds embody the paradoxes and ambiguities that are more often the domain of the art object than of the domestic environment. By using prefabricated metal Butler buildings, shipping containers, Jetways, urban detritus, even food – he introduces an emotional ambiguity into an area of architecture that has long conformed to a limited set of effects. Neither conventional notions of comfort nor specific usage is encoded in the materials he uses or in the spaces he creates Kalkin fuses building, performance, conceptual art, kinetic construction, and play into an eidetic whole. His art is characterized by a inventive, low-tech, mechanized absurdity..."

lavardera · Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 708 Location: merchantville, nj

fabadmin · Site Admin Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 648

The venue that was used to present Quikbuild in NY is Deitch Galleries, an art/installation space. FYI Kalkin was also giving away copies of a small book he co-produced titled Addiction. It was full of 'architectural' graphics like the ones below.

PS Bjorn - no problem putting the post back in this thread. I would have if I could (have).

varp · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 102 Location: australia

modernlover · Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 293 Location: PHX

Yes. Ees leetle beet good.
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Justin

Debrabooth · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 14

Has anyone seen other Kalkin projects--like the one at Sherbourne, Vermont? --Collector's House I think it's called. I'm thinking particularly of the Butler Building projects where he places containers inside a steel building.

Just curious.

Thanks

Debra

bjorn · Joined: 13 Dec 2003 Posts: 25

I suppose as art it's passable, if perverse and self-referential-kinda like Robert Wilson in some ways. But have you checked out his marketing material?

modernlover · Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 293 Location: PHX

Man! This guy just won't quit, will he?
Now I'm BORED...
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Justin

bjorn · Joined: 13 Dec 2003 Posts: 25

fabadmin · Site Admin Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 648

modernlover · Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 293 Location: PHX

Andy Warhol was a great conversationalist, sharp as a tack; I knew the man - don't bother quoting him at me, *dude*.
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Justin

modernlover · Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 293 Location: PHX

And furthermore, that's the end of this "discussion", as far as I'm concerned. Bjorn, cut the crap.
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Justin

Debrabooth · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 14

Collector's House is project 042 in ContainerBay. I have not seen his Butler based work in the flesh yet. Do you have his Butler book?
http://www.stoutbooks.com/cgi-bin/stoutbooks.cgi/48559.html[/quote]

I've ordered the Butler book so I have not seen it yet. I also purchased the other 'architecture and hygiene'. I think the Bunny Lane House is also very interesting. I have to admit that the container issue as expressed here is a little more limited from my point of view, perhaps it's because it's a little too sparten, a little claustrophic in feeling for me. However, the Butler building or even containers inside the Butler Building is putting it in some sort of context that, for me, is easier to "live with".

As to the artist-aspect of Adam Kalkin--who cares? Whatever keeps him going. I mean architecture is not exactly devoid of architects who see themselves as artists. It really doesn't matter--what matters to me is what I like and what I don't like, what I can live with and what I can't. Gee.

Debra

Debrabooth · Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 14

Collector's House is project 042 in ContainerBay. I have not seen his Butler based work in the flesh yet. Do you have his Butler book?
http://www.stoutbooks.com/cgi-bin/stoutbooks.cgi/48559.html[/quote]

I've ordered the Butler book so I have not seen it yet. I also purchased the other 'architecture and hygiene'. I think the Bunny Lane House is also very interesting. I have to admit that the container issue as expressed here is a little more limited from my point of view, perhaps it's because it's a little too sparten, a little claustrophic in feeling for me. However, the Butler building or even containers inside the Butler Building is putting it in some sort of context that, for me, is easier to "live with".

As to the artist-aspect of Adam Kalkin--who cares? Whatever keeps him going. I mean architecture is not exactly devoid of architects who see themselves as artists. It really doesn't matter--what matters to me is what I like and what I don't like, what I can live with and what I can't. Gee.

Debra

theflamingpuppy · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 1

In response to bjorn statement: “I don't think I'm the only one being "played" by Kalkin. I just hope he doesn't bluff his way into scewing up the "modern prefab" movement… I think there is a huge danger to the public when architecture is conceived, produced and sold as "Art"

Since when is it bad to have a building as an art piece? That’s what architecture is all about! How is artistically creative architecture at all dangerous to the public?

I saw an interview on the BBC a while back with Kalkin where he specifically said that he doesn’t think these suburban house kits will ever truly become popular in suburbia… but that perhaps a few people, like himself, would enjoy living in a work of art.