a home exploded,

Our project, A Home Exploded, communicates that a home bears identity with what its inhabitants chose to fill it with:  memories, traumas, possessions, people, etc. The same house can be virtually unrecognizable when occupied by different families, as the house merely acts as an empty vessel. A house cannot be a home without its host. 

Our project challenges the traditional exploded axonometric drawing--instead of separating the layers of building materials that make up assemblies (see Morphosis 2-4-6-8 House Parts drawing), our project series explores ways in which memory, identity, and time can be dissected. 

We enter the competition with 4 variations of the same concept. All of them begin with an identical house whose representations vary based on the family who resides in it. 

Each family has their own unique way of portraying themselves. Some are methodical and orderly, others like to shake it up. With that, they all left memoirs to help guide you through their drawings:

"August 12, 2003

Dear Diary,

It’s only been a few months and I miss my friends :( Being the new kid is hard. People at school are so mean! They tug on my hair and give me funny looks when dad picks me up. At my old school nobody cared that I was adopted. I keep it a secret because I don’t want to worry my parents. I hope I find new friends soon... But good news! I have a baby brother now! I can’t wait to play with him:) His name is Tyler. I was so happy when he was born, but mom and dad are so busy now. I hear Tyler crying at night all the time and mom and dad always look so tired. I hope they’re okay:( I hear them arguing about stuff a lot from my room. Sometimes I wonder why we even moved when they seem so unhappy. Anyways, I’m glad I have this diary. Hopefully when I get a new friend I won’t have to write in it as much.

March 7, 2004

It’s Emmi again!

Things have gotten a bit better than before. People still make fun of me at school, but I have a friend now! Her name is Lia and she’s super nice! We’re in different classes so I only see her during recess, but I feel less lonely now. I want to invite her for a playdate, but things are still kinda crazy at home. Mom and dad still seem stressed and fight a lot. Sometimes I listen outside their door. I guess we don’t have as much money as I thought. Dad tells me not to worry but I still do. They’re still really busy with Tyler, but to be honest I wish they paid more attention to me. It’s probably just because Tyler is still a baby though. Grandmama has been visiting a lot lately, I love when she visits. She shows me cool art and listens to me when I tell her things<3 I think she visits to help with Tyler but she always spends time with me too:) I hope she keeps coming over!

June 13, 2006

Hi Diary, it’s been a while.

I’m in middle school now! Lia has a few classes with me so I’m really glad about that. Also, Grandmama moved in with us! I love sharing a room with her. We sketch together and she tells me about her life and I tell her about mine. I feel like she’s the only one who truly understands me. Mom and dad seem a lot less stressed with her around too. Tyler is 3 years old now, but I still don’t get to play with him often. I try to play with him with my butterfly net, but mom scolds me and tells me it’s too dangerous for him. She’s so overprotective! Tyler’s still young, but I feel like he’s already getting spoiled. He’s not good at sharing and mom is always paying more attention to him. I feel like she loves him more than me. Dad tries to spend more time with me. The other day he took me out to get ice cream:) But whenever mom gets on my case about leaving Tyler alone he just stands there. The only one who ever takes my side is Grandmama. I’m so glad I have her. Every night feels like a sleepover since we share a room now! I hope she never leaves...

May 26, 2008

Today has been such a horrible day! My brother is just the meanest and he keeps trying to sabotage my life. I just wish that we could get along, but he always does something that just gets to me. Tyler decided to grab a bunch of sharpies and draw on all the sketches I had on my wall while I was out in the backyard riding my bike. I was so upset that I yelled at him because now all my sketches are ruined! What makes things worse is that I was the one who got in trouble for yelling at him and all my parents said was that, “He is too young to understand what he’s doing.” But I’ll tell you, he definitely knows what he did especially when I walked in the room and he was laughing so loudly about what he had done. I just can’t take this anymore… I hope I can move to Los Angeles one day and become an artist and I’ll no longer have to deal with this mess!!! The only one who treats me with all the love in the world is grandmama and I hope she can move to Los Angeles with me and go to all my art shows because she’s the best grandmama in the world! She’s the one who inspired me to make art and draw...I love her so much! 

November 9, 2010

Dear Diary,

It has been yet another long while since I have written in my Diary. The absolute worst thing has happened. Grandmama died in the hospital this morning. I just don’t know why she would keep her sickness a secret from me. I thought we told each other everything! Maybe… maybe she didn’t want me to see her at her weakest… I don’t know. I just wish I could have been there for her like she’s been for me. I…I just feel so empty inside now that Grandmama is actually gone. I still can’t believe it. She was one of those people you thought would live forever… and she was the one person I felt actually understood me, and now that she’s not here…I’m at a loss. I will never forget you, Grandmama. I love you, and I miss you... Rest in Peace.

September 12, 2012

Dear Diary,

I just wanted to say thank you for being there for me and listen to my venting. Now that I am eighteen, I can finally move out. I believe the time has come for me to start my life over and reinvent myself. I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time. But this time, I’m doing it for me… To be honest, I am scared. I have never been on my own like this, and I’m afraid of where I may end up. I’m sure no one will miss me either. I know Tyler would dance giggle at the thought of me moving out. My parents have paid less and less attention to me ever since the day Tyler was born, so I know they won’t even notice me missing. I also know deep in my heart Grandmama will be with me every step of the way on my new venture. This will be my last entry. So again, I thank you, Diary. Thank you for helping me understand that this is where I am not meant to be and that I need to find my true home."