Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/987764
Hallway of main house The use of concrete allows artists to think clearly without distractions and connect with the environment, which is conducive for meditation and introspection. 71 opened in 2014. Knowing the impact and interdependence of contemporary architecture on art, he looked to Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando to come up with the concept for Casa Wabi. Ando is best known to Texas art lovers for designing the stunning Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. As our tour guide, Gustavo Gutierrez, explains, Ando's concept for the residency was summed up by a straight line drawn on a piece of paper. Nothing more, nothing less. Like the Texas museum, Casa Wabi's defining material is cast concrete, which plays stunningly against the tropical vegetation and surrounding mountains. His almost fetishistic obsession with this material is masterfully rendered in this sleek, minimalist enclave that hosts more than 60 international artists a year, along with a yearlong exhibition headlined by an internationally renowned artist. This year, the artist is Ugo Rondinone, which makes our visit an unexpected delight. We carefully timed our visit to the residency, as you must reserve a spot on their schedule to tour the property. It was lunchtime, and luckily not far from this artistic incubator lies Hotel Escondido, managed by the Grupo Habita hotel chain. This similarly design-minded hotel property stands a mere 100 yards away from the residency, which serves as a painful reminder that sometimes it is indeed less about the journey and all about the destination. Gilbert Vicario is the Selig Family Chief Curator at Phoenix Art Museum. His exhibition "Matt Magee: •>][<'."-,}~{•*|," is on view through November 4. Casa Barragán's roof deck Pabellón Alvaro Siza Alvaro Siza's Clay Pavillion. The space encourages the local community to develop new conceptual and physical bonds with their surroundings through local material. The palapa roof in the main building is covered with layers of dried Royal palm-tree leaves, which allow ventilation and shelter. The main building forms the center of the cross formation. The concrete wall splits the interior into two halves, with reception spaces on the north side and living areas to the south.