michael jantzen manipulates house based on projected shadows

michael jantzen manipulates house based on projected shadows
all images courtesy of michael jantzen

‘the shadow house, friday march 13th 8:35AM 2014’ is one in a series of conceptual public art projects by michael jantzen. the idea is based on the observation that when a shadow is cast by the sun, there is an entire three-dimensional volume that makes up the form, not just a two-dimensional shape projected from the originating object. in addition, the figure continually changes as the sun moves around the massing from minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day, and month to month. in this project, jantzen uses this phenomenon to create an unexpected space expansion of the original conventional symbolic house form.

overview of the shadow house and it’s 3 dimensional shadow

at the beginning of the process, a small representation of the home was first built and placed in the sunlight on a platform. ‘the specific date and time was noted as I traced the outline of the shadow cast onto the horizontal surface by the model. I then expanded the shape of the original model to include the full shape of the shadow volume. this was done by drawing straight lines from the edges of the models sunlit surfaces to the edges of the shadow plain projected onto the horizontal surface. the smaller shadow spaces projected from the windows, door, and steps, were also added,’ says jantzen. ‘the shadow space extensions were then painted black to contrast with the original structure.’

from behind, it appears as a triangulated mass

the miniature version of the expanded dwelling will be used to direct the construction of a full scale adaptation for an exterior installation in a park. after the structure is built, every year from then on, as long as it exists and as long as the sun is shining, on friday march 13th at 8:35 am, the shadow of the original house will be absorbed by the formal extension.

view of the dark surfaces that represent a shadow

the final form connects the vertices of the original façade to the projected shape

the details of the stairs and windows have also been skewed to further the concept

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.