A pair of artists built and lived in this house balanced on a pole in upstate New York, which spun around and inclined as they moved around it during their week-long residency. Ward Shelley and Alex Schweder built the inhabitable ReActor structure at the OMI Art Center, which is located in the Hudson Valley near the town of Ghent. The sculpture – which measured 44 feet (13.5 metres) long and eight feet (2.5 metres) wide – sat atop a concrete column, raising it 15 feet (4.6 metres) off the ground.
Photo © Dora Somosi
“The structure rotates in response to its inhabitants’ movements, exterior forces, and interior conditions, making visible the intimate relationship between architecture and its inhabitants,” said the artists.
“The use of primary materials in the hands of architects and designers offers a glimpse at endless plastic and formal possibilities,” said Architecture OMI director Warren James.
Photo by © Richard Barnes
“The Architecture OMI program is conceived to facilitate projects exploring the intersection of architecture, art and landscape,” according to the foundation.
Hadeer Shahin is the Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she curates innovative architectural works from around the globe. With a background in architecture from Alexandria University and hands-on experience in design and digital content, she bridges the gap between technical precision and editorial vision. Hadeer’s keen eye for spatial storytelling and her passion for contemporary design trends make her a vital contributor to Arch2O’s mission of highlighting excellence in the built environment.