Picnic Table House
Architectural Model
2009 (made)
2009 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Using the landscape of the Museum as a test site, the V&A invited nineteen architects to submit proposals for structures that examine notions of refuge and retreat. Responding to specific locations in the Museum, the architects explored themes such as study, work, play, performance and contemplation, Seven of the proposals were then selected for construction at full-scale.
These projects promoted an attitude to architecture where to 'dwell' meant something more than simply to find shelter. Each building invited the participation of the viewer. These immersive environments reawakened people's ability to inhabit architectural space on both a physical and an emotional level.
The urban infrastructure often works against the needs of the homeless. Moulded plastic seats. closely spaced armrests and steel studs on benches are all used to prevent a homeless person from lying down. But in this project the picnic table folds down at night to form a roof over a woven, stainless steel bed. The bench frames store 'survival packs' containing emergency bedding, food and water.
These projects promoted an attitude to architecture where to 'dwell' meant something more than simply to find shelter. Each building invited the participation of the viewer. These immersive environments reawakened people's ability to inhabit architectural space on both a physical and an emotional level.
The urban infrastructure often works against the needs of the homeless. Moulded plastic seats. closely spaced armrests and steel studs on benches are all used to prevent a homeless person from lying down. But in this project the picnic table folds down at night to form a roof over a woven, stainless steel bed. The bench frames store 'survival packs' containing emergency bedding, food and water.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Picnic Table House (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Acrylic, MDF, plywood, balsa wood, modelling clay |
| Brief description | Model for 1:1 Architects Build Small Spaces exhibition (V&A, 2009), by Sean Godsell |
| Physical description | A model of two picnic tables and benches mounted on top of a black painted MDF box. A second, removable black box is used to protect the model and is secured in place by two wooden rods. The picnic tables are made of slats of brown painted plywood and are shown in two different positions, one is flat and there is a white modelling clay figure of a person seated at it, the other is folded down forming a roof over a second modelling clay figure which is lying beneath it. The benches are made out of plywood and the seats are covered with a sheet of metal, beneath one of the benches there are four miniature plastic first aid boxes and beneath both tables there are beds made out of plywood and metal mesh. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Sean Godsell |
| Object history | For Architects Build Small Spaces Exhibition, 2009 |
| Summary | Using the landscape of the Museum as a test site, the V&A invited nineteen architects to submit proposals for structures that examine notions of refuge and retreat. Responding to specific locations in the Museum, the architects explored themes such as study, work, play, performance and contemplation, Seven of the proposals were then selected for construction at full-scale. These projects promoted an attitude to architecture where to 'dwell' meant something more than simply to find shelter. Each building invited the participation of the viewer. These immersive environments reawakened people's ability to inhabit architectural space on both a physical and an emotional level. The urban infrastructure often works against the needs of the homeless. Moulded plastic seats. closely spaced armrests and steel studs on benches are all used to prevent a homeless person from lying down. But in this project the picnic table folds down at night to form a roof over a woven, stainless steel bed. The bench frames store 'survival packs' containing emergency bedding, food and water. |
| Bibliographic reference | Thomas, Abraham, 1:1 Architects Build Small Spaces, London: V&A Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9781851776412 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1449-2010 |
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| Record created | February 1, 2011 |
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