Thursday, February 5, 2009

House Boat House


This photograph is of Robert Venturi's fabulous Lieb House on the move from its original Long Beach Island site to Glen Cove, N.Y. The house, built in 1967, had been threatened with demolition but has been saved in a fairly remarkable manner. It will be transported first by road and then by barge around Long Island Sound to its new site.



There is a particular irony in this house, with its subtle relationship to its 'ugly and ordinary' site and modest circumstances, being moved to a more upmarket locale, but it would have been a tragedy had it been demolished. The current photographs show the house, despite the loss of its original giant dado paint job, to still be an incredibly taught and sharp piece of pop architecture.

You can read the whole story here, and there are more photos of it on the move via.

8 comments:

Murphy said...

hmmm... now that it's monochrome it reminds me of a certain building just off hackney road...

Charles Holland said...

I've no idea what you mean Murphy...

Blaize said...

You know, now that I know about the Fantastic Baby, I feel the need for updates on his Fantastic Progress.

Hello! I'm a stranger! I want to know how your kid is doing!

I love/hate our modern world.

Also, I live in a "manufactured home" in a trailer park, and my friend drew a great photo of my house as a boat, when the inevitable flood comes (I live in a flood plain). Your story here reminds me of that.

Grace said...

that house is pretty cool.totally wanna buy it!!

Charles Holland said...

Blaize,

I have more to say on the floating house story. Kind of dashed that post off yesterday while busy at work but intend to come back to the house boat house issue soon.

As for the Fantastic Baby (Baxter), well he's very well. Thank you for your interest. I feel touched rather than spooked. I have a bit of a thing about people showing off baby pictures in innapropriate scenarios so you won't see one posted here, but we can always become facebook friends and you can follow his progress!

Grace, I think you are too late, its been sold! But it is pretty cool I agree,

Blaize said...

I would love to see photos of Baxter. But which Charles Holland are you on Facebook (or Faceplant, as I continually call it, wrapped in the smugness of my own hilarity)?

progressive reactionary said...

Brilliant!

Charles Holland said...

Blaize,

Err, the one drinking a cup of tea. Charles Holland, London UK. Hope that helps.....