OPEN HOUSE

OPEN HOUSE is a transforming theater in York, Alabama

5 Minute video of concept and context - http://vimeo.com/70386286

Artist Matthew Mazzotta, the Coleman Center for the Arts, and the people of York Alabama have teamed up to work together and transform a blighted property in Yorks downtown into a new public art project this is in the shape of a house, but can physically transform into a 100 seat open air theater, free for the public.

Through open conversations, hard work and planning we have developed a project that uses the materials from an abandoned house as well as the land it sits on to build a new smaller house on the footprint of the old house. However this new house has a secret, it physically transforms from the shape of a house into an open air theater that seats 100 people by having its walls and roof fold down. We call our project Open House.

Open House lives mostly in the form of a house between the grocery store and the post office, reminding people what was there before, but it opens up when the community wants to enjoy shows, plays, movies, and any other event people can think of that supports community life here in York. When the theater is folded back up into the shape of a house the property is a public park for anyone to enjoy.

Open House was awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Visual Artist Network, as well as individual contributions

For more details on Matthew Mazzotta- matthewmazzotta.com

For More Photos and Story - colemanarts.org/2013/06/open-house-matthew-mazzotta/

The metamorphosis of Open House is designed to require cooperation. It takes four people one and a half hours to unfold the structure. The foundation is made of used railroad ties which anchor the custom fabricated industrial hinges to five rows of stadium seating. The rows of seats fold down with the aid of a hand winch and enough manpower to counter balance the hefty, but agile structure.

Matthew Mazzotta - Lead Concept and Design
Jegan Vincent de Paul - Architectural Designer

OPEN HOUSE by Matthew Mazzotta in United States won the WA Award Cycle 17. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.