01_Westbeth courtyard photo.JPG

Westbeth Artists Housing

It’s My Party Wall: A Space-Sharing Chronicle

"In the building you live in: go and call on your neighbors; look at what there is on the party wall, for example; confirm, or belie, the homotopology of the accommodation. See what use they have made of it; […] try to imagine on what a collective existence might be based, within the confines of this same building."  

– Georges Perec


Prologue: An apartment at Westbeth Artists Housing

“Dammit, I’m out of cadmium red again,” Mel thought to himself, realizing he wouldn’t be able to finish the new painting until he ordered more online. His daughter used to resupply him in these situations, but it’d been six years since she fled New York in search of cheaper rent, and longer still since there were any artist supply stores in the Village. Mel raised his daughter in this maisonette apartment, which he’d occupied since 1979, and never missed an opportunity to point out that it was designed by two of the city’s most distinguished architects (Richard Meier and Tod Williams). He’d always been grateful for his affordable life as an artist in Manhattan, but these days the space felt rather gloomy; he wished there was someone to share it with... (figure 1)


1: An adjoining apartment

Dee and Mel both laughed at the memory. Ethan, Dee’s artistic partner-in-crime had convinced her the rigging was secure. “It’s a tough building—it once housed Bell Labs!” But as she feared, the anchor came loose, and the sculpture collapsed in dramatic fashion, punching through the side wall. Dee and Mel had always been friendly but never realized their spaces were adjoining until that moment (Westbeth is notoriously labyrinthine). It proved to be a creative match made in heaven; they widened the hole to join their studio spaces, and the first double-maisonette was secretly established. (figure 2)


2: A building inspection

Dee was sure the game was up when FDNY discovered their illegal modification, but surprisingly, officials determined the conjoined units improved code compliance by introducing a second means of egress. News of the innovation spread, and other residents followed suit. Each of these new apartment pairings was different, due to the spatial complexity of the maisonettes.


3: Elsewhere in the building

New and larger apartment aggregations are established throughout the building, connecting three, four, and sometimes five units. The intensity of social and artistic collaboration reaches its highest level in years, and Westbeth reopens its waiting list to support these new micro-collectives. Dee, Mel, and Ethan now live in a quad apartment with six other artists; they renovated to create shared kitchens, bathrooms, and common spaces, while devoting more space to studios and bedrooms. In the courtyard’s north wing, there is a three-floor apartment dedicated to theater and performance art; the south wing hosts a sprawling network of painting and sculpture studios; still others support eccentric lifestyle combinations. (figures 3, 4, 5 and 6)


Epilogue:

Disagreements, break-ups, deaths, and social discord. Blockades are put up, and apartments are subdivided again. These newly partitioned units often differ from Meier’s original plans, according to the circumstances of combination and separation. Dee and Mel still enjoy sharing their space, for now… (figure 7)

02_Figure 1_a single unit.jpg

Figure 1. A single unit

03_Figure 2_a double unit.jpg

Figure 2. A double unit

04_Figure 3_unit aggregation diagram.jpg

Figure 3. Unit aggregation diagram

05_Figure 4_space sharing diagram.jpg

Figure 4. Space-sharing diagram

06_Figure 5_courtyard section showing unit aggregations.jpg

Figure 5. Courtyard section showing unit aggregations

07_Figure 6_a triple unit.jpg

Figure 6. A triple unit

08_Figure 7_a unit being subdivided.jpg

Figure 7. A unit undergoing subdivision

  • 1571 Comments   –  Login to comment

  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 12, 24 10:01 am

    work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You. esport betting malaysia
  • beryaln

    beryaln ·  Mar 13, 24 4:46 am

    it is crucial to recognize that although AI essay generators may be an effective tool but they do have limitations. The essays generated by AI may not have the imagination and critical thinking the hallmarks of human-written content. Therefore, it's important to use Ai">https://www.goodgoblin.ai/">Ai Essay Generator AI-generated content as a point of departure or reference point and to go through and revise them before the submission or publication.
  • corajesse

    corajesse ·  Mar 15, 24 1:21 pm


    Your blog post was exceptionally insightful! The presentation of your perspectives was truly invigorating. I eagerly look forward to your next release. Take a moment to explore our website now
    https://digitalhive.pk/
  • sophiaseo

    sophiaseo ·  Mar 15, 24 2:01 pm

    I found your this post while searching for some related information on blog search...Its a good post..keep posting and update the information. ??ng Nh?p AZ888
  • corajesse

    corajesse ·  Mar 16, 24 1:05 pm

    We truly appreciate all that you have done here, as it shows your genuine concern for our well-being.

  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 16, 24 9:53 pm

    Luxury Tours Egypt Travel Agency and Tourism Organization offer Egypt tours, Egypt Nile cruises, Egypt day tours Check Luxury Tours Egypt  cruise">https://luxurytourseg.com/">cruise from aswan
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 17, 24 9:18 am

    Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find so many useful info here in the post, we need work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. parterapi København
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 18, 24 7:46 am

    I havent any word to appreciate this post.....Really i am impressed from this post....the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. Türk Porno
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 19, 24 7:51 am

     really thank you for the valuable info on this great subject and look forward to more great posts. Thanks a lot for enjoying this beauty article with me. I am appreciating it very much! Looking forward to another great article. Good luck to the author! All the best! hoho togel
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 19, 24 8:36 am

    This is my first time visit here. From the tons of comments on your articles,I guess I am not only one having all the enjoyment right here! hohotogel
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 20, 24 5:10 am

    I’ve been searching for some decent stuff on the subject and haven't had any luck up until this point, You just got a new biggest fan!.. togeldulu
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 20, 24 5:42 am

    Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with extra information? It is extremely helpful for me. togel dulu
  • basitsheikh

    basitsheikh ·  Mar 20, 24 8:29 am

    Explore https://liteblueinsider.com/ for more in-depth information.
  • myurdunovels

    myurdunovels ·  Mar 20, 24 8:32 am

    For a deeper dive into the topic, visit https://www-mycenturahealth.us/
  • ВладиславаЕкимова

    ВладиславаЕкимова ·  Mar 20, 24 9:10 am

    ????? ??? ?????????? ????? ?????? ????????????? https://wellbets.ru/bonus_filter/fribety-fonbet. ???? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????? ? ?????? ????????? ?????????. ???????? ?????????????, ?????????? ?????????? ??????? ? ???????????? ?????????????? ?????????? – ?????? ??, ??? ???? ?????????. ?????? ? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ? ????????????, ??? ?????? ??????????? ?????????.
  • basitsheikh

    basitsheikh ·  Mar 20, 24 1:08 pm

    For further insights, explore https://nadevelopers.com/shopify-web-design-services-austin-texas/
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 20, 24 11:27 pm

    I admire this article for the well-researched content and excellent wording. I got so involved in this material that I couldn’t stop reading. I am impressed with your work and skill. Thank you so much. dago togel
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 21, 24 12:00 am

    Nice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Well this article that i've been waited for so long. I need this article to complete my assignment in the college, and it has same topic with your article. Thanks, great share. dagotogel
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 21, 24 11:32 pm

    Hello I am so delighted I located your blog, I really located you by mistake, while I was watching on google for something else, Anyways I am here now and could just like to say thank for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining website. Please do keep up the great work. hoho togel
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 22, 24 12:03 am

    Hello I am so delighted I located your blog, I really located you by mistake, while I was watching on google for something else, Anyways I am here now and could just like to say thank for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining website. Please do keep up the great work. hohotogel
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 25, 24 5:34 am

    Hello I am so delighted I located your blog, I really located you by mistake, while I was watching on google for something else, Anyways I am here now and could just like to say thank for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining website. Please do keep up the great work. wuling4d
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 25, 24 6:09 am

    I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You. wuling4d
  • sofiajames

    sofiajames ·  Mar 27, 24 8:30 am

    Discover charity-bins.com.au, your go-to resource for finding donation bins conveniently located throughout Australia. Easily locate drop-off points for clothing, household items, and more to support charitable causes in your community.

    https://charity-bins.com.au/

  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 28, 24 5:24 am

    I really thank you for the valuable info on this great subject and look forward to more great posts. Thanks a lot for enjoying this beauty article with me. I am appreciating it very much! Looking forward to another great article. Good luck to the author! All the best! akun pro myanmar
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 28, 24 7:02 am

    I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business. internet games
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 28, 24 8:03 am

    I recently found many useful information in your website especially this blog page. Among the lots of comments on your articles. Thanks for sharing. slot gacor hari ini
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 28, 24 11:02 am

    I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorites blog site list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my site as well and let me know what you think. akun pro thailand
  • فنادقاسطنبول
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 29, 24 5:52 am

    Hi, I find reading this article a joy. It is extremely helpful and interesting and very much looking forward to reading more of your work.. kontol
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 29, 24 6:28 am

    Thank you so much for sharing this great blog.Very inspiring and helpful too.Hope you continue to share more of your ideas.I will definitely love to read. download film porno
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Mar 30, 24 1:42 am

    I really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. I assure this would be beneficial for most of the people. download film porno
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:41 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:41 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • ghulamshabeer

    ghulamshabeer ·  Mar 30, 24 6:42 am

    GetPlugg offers a fantastic range of electronics, from laptops to mice and monitors, ensuring top-notch quality and performance for all your tech needs refurbished laptop online
  • basitsheikh

    basitsheikh ·  Apr 1, 24 7:50 am

    Discover expert podiatry care for healthier feet. Step into comfort and wellness with our specialized services. https://kinexpodiatrytx.com/
  • basitsheikh

    basitsheikh ·  Apr 1, 24 7:52 am

    Welcome to RCM Services, your trusted partner in comprehensive asset management solutions. Let us optimize your operations for peak efficiency. https://www.dijination.net/dijination-expert-revenue-cycle-management-solutions/
  • basitsheikh

    basitsheikh ·  Apr 1, 24 7:53 am

    Compassionate psychiatry care for all ages. Empowering mental wellness in children and adults alike. https://acapstx.com/
  • johnyki79579551

    johnyki79579551 ·  Apr 1, 24 12:21 pm

    Thank you because you have been willing to share information with us. we will always appreciate all you have done here because I know you are very concerned with our. K2 spice spray
  • adeptimize303

    adeptimize303 ·  Apr 4, 24 1:23 am

    Adeptimize is the best company in the USA
    Adeptimize">https://adeptimize.com/">Adeptimize
Next page » Loading