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The House of Many Stories

Architectural Model
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.

This homely space allows us to gather our thoughts and curl up for a doze and a dream. Beneath the table there exists a space of childhood DIY imagination - a super-sized den that invites adults to re-enter the world of play. Referencing the skewed perspectives and scales of dolls' houses and puppet theatres, this distorted domestic space allows children to feel grown-up, and encourages adults to feel childish.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleThe House of Many Stories (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Acrylic, card, printed paper, painted wire, twigs
Brief description
Model for 1:1 Architects Build Small Spaces exhibition, by AOC (Agents of Change), London, 2009.
Physical description
A model of a house made out of card, the exterior is covered with cream and maroon coloured paper printed with images of tree trunks, a rabbit, squirrel, woodpecker and geometric patterns and is also decorated with a panel of mirror card and wooden twigs. Doors and windows provide glimpses of the interior which contains a model of a dining room table, chairs and bookcase, distorted to create a skewed perspective. The roof of the building has a triangular skylight made out of transparent perspex.
Dimensions
  • Height: 360mm
  • Width: 290mm
  • Width: 290mm
Style
Credit line
Given by AOC Architecture Ltd. (Agents of Change)
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.

This homely space allows us to gather our thoughts and curl up for a doze and a dream. Beneath the table there exists a space of childhood DIY imagination - a super-sized den that invites adults to re-enter the world of play. Referencing the skewed perspectives and scales of dolls' houses and puppet theatres, this distorted domestic space allows children to feel grown-up, and encourages adults to feel childish.
Bibliographic reference
Thomas, Abraham, 1:1 Architects Build Small Spaces, London: V&A Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9781851776412
Collection
Accession number
E.1441-2010

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Record createdFebruary 1, 2011
Record URL
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