Tod Williams, Billie Tsien

Domestic Arrangements

In an exhibit presented at the Whitney Museum of Art in 1990, Williams and Tsien explore the use of ordinary and inexpensive materials as a means to create extraordinary domestic interiors. Although they are not specifically interested in low cost housing they emphasize the possiblity of using materials such as wood pulp, wood chips and paper products as well as other unassuming materials to create significate forms and surfaces.

1,2. roof, wall -variations that can accomodate different sizes and situations based on expanded foam segments conneted and stiffened with hollow a laminated paper tube. Tipped vertically it turns into a wall system that has its own integral structure

3.columns, beams -laminated and formed paper spun around a form to yield a hollow tube and sliced into sections

4. floor -easy, inexpensive, and transportable raised floors from ready made pallets made with wood chips mixed with resin and compressed into a mold. Perforated harboard with gravel and resin finish is used as a floor surface

5,6.interior walls, seating -made from Homasote (fiberboard) laid flat, glued together and cut to yield various shapes. Homosote produces a velvet striated texture that while unassuming is at the same time sensual

7,8,9.table, bed, screen -made from 2 long pine boards joined together by clear pine ribs, based on the idea of furniture as multifunctional objects, if it is turned on its edge and hinges are added, it becomes a partition

10.rug -made from layers of latex adhered to an open gridded scrim over canvas (the backing of a conventional rug) certain areas are hand tufted with different colors and materials to suggest specific uses