An architectural promenade designed by architects Nicolas Février and Roland Oberhofer temporarily altered one’s perception of and approach to the Mid-Wilshire Mackey Apartments (1939). Schindler Roof – Reloaded served as an experiment towards a new type of public space that could co-exist with a private residential building. A long staircase wrapped around and over the existing structure and provided guests from the neighboring community an opportunity to enjoy panoramic views of Los Angeles from atop the three-story Modernist building. The goal of the architects was to develop a new model for outdoor private/public space by using the flat rooftops that are typical of L.A.’s Modernist housing tradition.
Artist Corinne L. Rusch utilized the architectural promenade designed by fellow residents Nicolas Fevrier and Roland Oberhofer to exhibit her photographic work. She presented a diptych featuring an image from her native country and an image from her temporary home in Los Angeles — the Mackey Apartments. Rusch condensed her daily experiences and childhood memories into photographic images, using her surroundings as a setting with family and friends posing as her models.
Christoph Kumpusch designed, built, and “un-built” archetypal outdoor objects to establish a social function for the rooftop space of the Mackey Apartments. Experimenting with common everyday materials to create forms that proposed a program of leisure and summertime activity for guests, Kumpusch’s installation accommodated poolside suntanning as well as the performative activities of fellow resident Suwan Laimanee.
Suwan Laimanee shared the traditions and practices of his homeland (Thailand) as an artistic performance, offering food, drink and/or massage to visitors. His artistic practice was a performance in which the participant actively engaged with the artist to receive the work. Thai cooking workshops by Laimanee were scheduled every other Sunday at 1:00 p.m., August 3, 17, and 31, 2003.
related events
Thai Cooking Workshop, August 17, 2003. Artist Suwan Laimanee offered workshops in Thai cooking at the Mackey Apartments. Teaching about cooking techniques, the healthful qualities of foods and the politics of food importation and exportation, the artist created a colorful and aromatic display of food offering a wonderful sensory experience in a social atmosphere.
Summer Time presented works by the Villa Aurora residents, August 20, 2003. Readings, video screenings and music presented in the context of the Summer Time exhibition featuring works by the Villa Aurora’s former and current Artists-in-Residence: Rainer Merkel with Georg Fick, Philipp Lachenmann, Lutz Seiler and Jens Brand with Michael Intriere and Anna Homler.
Video Screening, August 29, 2003. A presentation of videos related to the work of current and former MAK Center Artists and Architects-in-Residence: Lorenzo Rocha Cito, Christoph Kumpusch, Suwan Laimanee, and Una Szeemann.
Cooking for the Homeless, September 8, 2003. Resident artist Suwan Laimanee prepared a Thai meal for 130 homeless people at All Saint’s Church, Beverly Hills.