Pulled by the Roots
The biggest surprise Karlsruhe has to offer for the next couple of months is a suspended house in the middle of the Market Place Karlsruhe. Between July 1st and September 27th, 2015, the Center for Art and Media (ZKM) is organizing an international arts festival, dedicated to “celebrate and repurpose construction sites and poor materials” – The City is the Star.
Leandro Erlich’s installation – Pulled by the Roots – features a huge crane that is supporting a two story house with roots. The concept of his design was based on the work of the German architect Friedrich Weinbrenner, at some point Karlsruhe’s official leading architect. The house looks like it’s floating, while being “transported” from one site to another. Pulled from the ground, de-rooted and wondering where should it land next, the project addresses a few actual topics, like “uprooting, migration and simulation”.
Erlich has managed once again to make art in its purest form, a means to ask questions and to suggest new possible ways of thinking. Pulled by the Roots is a striking surreal installation that is definitely worth experiencing.
Project credits:
Artist: Leandro Erlich
Clients: ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, Stadtmarketing Karlsruhe GmbH, Karlsruher Schieneninfrastruktur-Gesellschaft mbH (KASIG)
By Cristina Juc
Cristina Juc is passionate about the intersection of technology, design, and architecture. A former Assistant Editor and Writing Intern at Arch2O, she contributed insightful content exploring innovation in the built environment. Her involvement in events like the Transylvania Biennial of Architecture reflects her ongoing commitment to architectural discourse. Currently the Executive Director at Spherik Accelerator, Cristina supports startups driving change across creative and tech industries. With a background in community building and educational tech, she continues to champion forward-thinking solutions that shape how we design, build, and experience space.