House 2B (to be)
2023 | Course Project, Design
"To be, or not to be, that is the question." - William Shakespeare, Hamlet
This series explores the phrase You are my home. In relationships, there seems to be a "house and tenant" dynamic, where one is a safe place and the other a dweller. The illustrations are self-portraits drawn from descriptions in a "Housing Review" filled by three people I was once close with - them as the tenants, me as the house. The last self-portrait is an unfilled housing application form, begging the question: If I am no longer in a house, should I be applying for residency as a tenant?
Media: Watercolor and Literary Component
Next Project
House not 2B (not to be)
If I am no longer in a house, should I be applying for residency as a tenant?
Housing Rental Application
Applicant Name:
<Part 1: Preferences >
-
Preferred Location:
-
Preferred Color Scheme:
-
Preferred Interior Style:
<Part 2: General Information >
-
Rental Budget:
-
Current Job/Occupation:
-
Estimated Rental Time:
<Part 3: Other Information >
-
What time of the day are you most active?
-
Morning
-
Noon
-
Afternoon
-
Evening
-
Night
-
The AMs
-
-
What house features are essential to you?
Self-Portrait of Julianne Ho (as seen by Julianne Ho)
House not to be
Housing Reviews
Tenant Name: 歐俊延 (Walf)
<Part I: Recall the Apartment>
What was the location?
‘The city. In between the financial and industrial district. Every morning, you can see workers on the bus heading toward the industrial district. The two sides of the apartment are high-rise buildings, but surprisingly, the sun still manages to reach the rooftop.’
What was the general color scheme?
‘Green, like the green of moss; light blue, like the blue of ice or glass; dark gray, a bit like the gray of basalt?
Was there a particular style?
‘Dark wood, bookshelves, dim lights, fireplace, blankets and throws, bookshelves.’
<Part II: Personal Experience in the Apartment>
What was a special feature about the apartment?
‘The hallways are very complex. Even after living there for a while, it’s difficult to determine where the hallways lead to.
There are many layers of basement inside the house, and each layer has many rooms. I actually wrote my first novel in the house, at the table by the window and would occasionally go to the basement for inspiration, looking for old books to read and search for English records. The basement is filled with many strange things, although most of them are not visible (because the basement is very dark and I don't know where the light switch is). Many antiques and strange toys. I can recall a glass fish sculpture and a stamp collection that was a little moldy. There were also carpets, tapestries, and curtains that had patterns of marine creatures on them. Although the overall “theme” of the house wasn’t particularly ocean-related, the previous owner (if there was one) may have been very fond of marine creatures.’
What was your favorite corner in the house?
‘I loved the indoor garden. It was lit by artificial light, with some plants growing from the ground upward. I liked to sit on a chair that was amongst the shrubs and…think about things. The air was cool there, which I enjoyed. I would always have a cup of coffee in hand when I sat there, (although it wasn’t good coffee), but it eventually became a habit, you know, having coffee in the garden. Oftentimes I’d be fidgeting with things I found in the basement.’
What was your favorite room?
‘My favorite room was in the basement. I think it used to be a study? It’s in the center of the basement, and any other room in the basement can be accessed from this room. I suppose it used to be spacious, but became cramped after things accumulated inside. I liked the room because of the journals and drawings that were left there. They always gave me inspiration…comfort at times, when I found it hard to face the outside world.’
What was your favorite time to be in the house?
'Night time.'
Were there defunctioning parts of the apartment that annoyed you?
'Yes.'
‘First of all, as I mentioned earlier, the hallways in the house were confusing. There were times when I wanted to go somewhere but had to give up since I couldn’t find my way (I suspect that the hallways in the house had magic since they always seemed to be shifting.) Secondly, the AC in the house doesn’t work well. It tends to be inconsistent; sometimes it can be extraordinarily hot, and other times extremely cold. The basement lights aren’t the best either. They go out without warning, and I remember fumbling through the dark a few times until I found the stairs.’
<Part III: General Information>
How was the rent?
'Expensive. Took me all my savings.'
What was your job/occupation while you lived in the house?
‘A rebel. I was fighting against certain things I couldn’t quite pinpoint. I tried everything in my ability to defeat them. Writing. Criticizing. Knowledge I gained from things in the apartment. Stuff like that. I guess I was also simultaneously fighting myself? Perhaps against my own vacancy or expectations. Not too sure.’
What did you do most in the house?
'Admire.'
How long did you live in the apartment?
‘Maybe a year? Or two years. I can’t really remember.’
Why did you move out?
‘In the end, I found myself fighting against the apartment itself. And, well, how could I continue living in a space that I was going against? I found myself relying too much on the apartment. To the point where I was losing myself. When I moved out, I took everything I had brought when I had initially moved in away with me. But I did leave two notebooks on the study desk. One was already in the apartment when I first came, and the other was a white notebook I had purchased during my time there. I had filled the white notebook with blue writing from a pen I found in the house. (I decided to take the blue pen with me in the hopes that no matter where I went in the future, I’d still have a bit of the apartment with me.)’
Tenant Name: Christina Tsai (aka. Mom)
<Part I: Recall the Apartment>
What was the location?
‘Up on a hill facing the ocean.’
What was the general color scheme?
‘White, blue, yellow.’
Was there a particular style?
‘Modern, lots of wood + white combos, large windows, decorated with cute things.’
<Part II: Personal Experience in the Apartment>
What was a special feature about the apartment?
NA
What was your favorite corner in the house?
‘A table in the sunroom by the window.’
What was your favorite time to be in the house?
'The Ams.'
Were there defunctioning parts of the apartment that annoyed you?
'Yes, the security.'
<Part III: General Information>
How was the rent?
'Surprisingly cheap.'
What was your job/occupation while you lived in the house?
‘Professor.’
What did you do most in the house?
'Work.'
How long did you live in the apartment?
‘3 years.’
Why did you move out?
I had to go somewhere else.
Tenant Name: Clary Pu
<Part I: Recall the Apartment>
What was the location?
‘A forest. The kind of forest you’d hear about in a fairytale with a happy ending. There’s plenty of mushrooms to be gathered and curious animals than stop by. This is a forest that is friendly and welcoming.’
What was the general color scheme?
‘Pastel orange, calm brown, the color of a very clean and transparent sea when the sun shines down on it.’
Was there a particular style?
‘Modern, lots of wood + white combos, large windows, decorated with cute things.’
<Part II: Personal Experience in the Apartment>
What was a special feature about the apartment?
‘There is a doorway in the house with markings on it that measure two people growing up. One remains consistently taller than the other but it’s unmistakable that these two kids grew up together over years in the same space, and the markings might be half painted over and they might be untouched but the most important part is these were two kids who loved each other.’
What was your favorite corner in the house?
‘There’s a large fish tank near the book-filled study and an armchair right next to it. sometimes I like to sit in the armchair and look at all the fish swim around.’
What was your favorite time to be in the house?
'The Afternoon.'
Were there defunctioning parts of the apartment that annoyed you?
‘Sometimes the sun shines too bright into the rooms and even though it’s beautiful it’s a little much but it’s nothing some curtains won’t fix. I’m too lazy to go and get curtains though. I think I wouldn’t say no to a bit more light.’
<Part III: General Information>
How was the rent?
'A bit pricey.'
What was your job/occupation while you lived in the house?
‘I wrote stories & books and planted a garden I could live off of & trade home grown goods with the neighbors.’
What did you do most in the house?
'Create.'
How long did you live in the apartment?
‘7 years.’
Why did you move out?
‘I had to go somewhere else but the place is still mine and I visit quite often.’