Name: Aaron and Jonathan (roomates for 9 years)
Location: Bed-Stuy. Brooklyn
Favorite: The light and the chairs
Quote: “My apartment is cured and so am I” (put to music by Aaron)
When an artist/photographer/musician—Aaron (Golem and lycaon pictus) and an artist/set designer—Jonathan move in to a two story, former auto repair shop in the working industrial section of Bedford-Stuyvesant—the results are anything but banal.
This 5000 square foot space has served them well over the past 9 years, and when it hasn’t, Jonathan—the set builder—has adjusted the space by punching a hole through the ceiling, lowering the ceiling, raising the ceiling, adding sleeping nooks, building kitchens, bathrooms, roof access, and so much more.
Although, he clearly has an eye for what is aesthetically pleasing—ie. great chair fetish, and the precision of what he builds—Jonathan’s approach to living is “maximum utility”. He creates light where there is none, and provides a chair for every occasion.
He and Aaron have managed to carve out extremely utilitarian spaces—such as a woodshop, rehearsal space, and darkroom—downstairs, while using the upstairs as a home of curiosities. Every corner offers something to surprise or intrigue the viewer. They have taken on projects large and small, not least of which includes filling in the gaping hole on the ground floor that once housed a crane for lifting cars.
Having this much space has spoiled these two guys in that they can collect and display anything, of any size, and still preserve dance space in their sprawling home. The best find noted were two beautiful wood/metal desk chairs tossed in the garbage in front of a Salvation Army in downtown Manhattan years ago. (What were they thinking?).
In terms of their chosen neighborhood, Aaron says he enjoys the “ugly, nightmare, not fun” aspects of Brooklyn, as well as the feeling of being a minority amidst a very diverse population. He likes the rawness of the space, and is more than content to live on a relatively treeless street.
The sad end to this story is that their work in progress has been definitively halted. They are being forced to move. Where to? Yonkers. JS
Know a great apartment for a house tour? email Jill at theinsideout@apartmenttherapy.com.
that place looks kinda dirty.
By dirty, you must mean cluttered?
It's amazing that they found a place in NYC big enough to carve out all those cool work spaces...
This space is pretty damn cool as far as live/work spaces go. Too bad they have to move. Reminds me a lot of Linda Fiorentino and Rosanna Arquette's artist loft in Scorcese's movie After Hours. This would have been my dream home in the mid '80s... Bet they've had some cool parties in the space, too.
Don't see it, don't feel, don't get it. SORRY.
Don't see it, don't feel it, don't get it. SORRY.
It's a boy space.
Just shows how different people are - I'm imagining that they find the place condusive to (even engendering) creativity. Me, my head would spin constantly from all the STUFF - I don't think I could write a note or a word there.
Still - there is something about a space that has a vibe of people who are making something...
Tell me that the duct tape on the stairs is not intended to provide structural support.
I like it. It's got a urban swiss family robinson vibe. So much project space! And plenty of room for street finds.
Bet it's freezing in the winter.
Reminds me of Tyler Durton's shack in Fight club. The roof top deck is incredible!
Sorry, I'm not feeling the dirty boy space asthetic.
hey -- it's a girl space too. i love it. why o why the move to Yonkers?
why are you wasting my time?
It is tempting to find some reason to post this --it is a lot of space, and although it is not finished, or even edited, its nice to see people with space to breathe and work and finish their own little projects. The pictures are terrible in comparison to prior AT shows. For example, we have several roof pix, but I didn't see a view in there. (the irony -- that these two are photographers -- does not escape me, but I didn't find the photos artistic, either). I do not find most of the stuff these two have collected or made even interesting, except for the semi-artistic workings over of noise reducing detritus in the rehearsal space. The kitchen looks like it has promise, why didn't we get more of a peek at that? Show me how those skylights let the world in.
While its lovely to get a view into someone's space, the photos here are more of junk accumulations. The chairs, etc -- this would be better if you had a dedicated space to sit down and eat, instead of just a few chairs among clutter. I mean, with 5000 square feet, these two can't spare 200 for an eating nook?
Looking at this does, however, make me feel much better about how I've used my 1250 sf. And that I have better junk. I'm sure I paid more, tho.
Alex
Regarding moving to Yonkers-
I live in a 5000 sq ft 19th century garage (we like "carriage house"), in Yonkers, and believe me, these guys will like it better than their old neighborhood, and are likely to have shorter commutes as well.
I have mixed feelings about this week's submission Max. I am a little sorry but not all the way sorry. I know it is quite a diversion from many of my past entries but at least it has fostered a dialogue amongst the various and sundry AT readers.
Yes, I didn't include the photo on the roof with the empire state bldg in the background, yes, I limited the shots I took of the kitchen, etc. And yes, the inhabitants are quite an eccentric pair. Nonetheless, I feel it is important to provide that voyeuristic entry into people's homes--ANYONE--who has gone the extra step to make their living quarters into more than that--into a home, a home for which they are proud and to which they look forward to return after a long day.
Some of these may appeal to more viewers than others.
I found this interesting but a little frustrating. Interesting in the variety of things they have collected, but frustrated that things don't seem to be arranged at all & liitle thought seems to have been paid to how it looks. Ok, utilitarianism is king, but what is the pride in - that they managed to find all this stuff? I admit I'm envious of the space & the ability to shape it at will - both the permission & the skill - but the finishing work hasn't been done.
Would someone share how the lightbox was done?
Thought this is apt. was a good choice -- unpredictability and variety make AT more interesting.
This is a happy space with an ad hoc feeling, and an amazing amount of specialized workspace.
I especially like the brain light box (brain box?).
btw, where do you go to buy a used large format camera?
Jill,
I think you read my post wrong. These two obviously have much to be proud of -- 5000 sq feet in the 5 boroughs is no mean feat. That they can work the space -- i.e., modify it -- is also a feat. But you introduced the piece as saying their use of the space is "not banal," and I think what I and others are saying is, "really? is that so?"
The space itself is not banal. The stuff they have all over the place -- is this supposed to be the art of disorder? Where are the nooks and crannies, the sleeping lofts, the holes in the ceilings and walls to let in light, the ceilings moved up and down to facilitate use. I don't see that in the slideshow.
The collections don't appeal to me, but I suspect we are shopping at different junk-o-ramas. And I'm not shopping at the Jonathan Adler one, so don't get me wrong. And a lot of stuff I see on AT doesn't appeal to me. I don't think anyone is saying these two individuals or their home are not worthy, or that their use of stuff is not interesting in any way.
I think we are saying that the presentation -- both yours and theirs -- needs work, because it is banal to have a bunch of accumulated stuff around your house that is halfway organized and the rest just placed there until you get to it. And the emphasis on utilitarianism is strange, given that much of the stuff looks to be purely decorative. For example, how does the cat scan on light box further the maximum utilitarianism rule? Wouldn't the plain light box be better?
What's the harm in showing us the spot in the house where they sit and rest from their finds? Is that the roof, where they lean on the privacy pallets?
I just need more guidance to see the beauty in this.
If you care, I usually enjoy the slideshows (quietly).
Alex
what, no one here has seen an artists loft before??
I vote big dirty mess. I think I'd cry if I lived here.
Seriously I have a 4000 sf loft in Bushwick thats at least as good or better than those dudes crib. And me and my roommate built every room and installed baseboard heating..and learned as we went. We knew NOTHING about construction when we started. We were desperate to move.
7 roommates 2 dogs 7 wheelchairs a pay phone, an ATM, a dentists chair and x ray machine..and more. you need to come visit us!
www.gazeebo.net
messy. scary messy. if i had a date with one of these guys and he took me back to his place, i'd run away. i once dated a guy who never threw away glass jars. he had hundreds of glass jars in his place (washed, thank god). he'd put leftovers in them or drink beverages from them. he said it was recycling, and i suppose it was, but it was kind of disgusting. that guy could be these guys' roommate.
I lived across the street from these guys last year, about six months. Our apartment was a top floor railroad with eat in kitchen, and 4 rooms- we had two bedrooms, a living room, and a den for tv. 9 windows throughout! I could see the empire state building while I took a shower, and with all the low industrial structures, the sunsets were beautiful.
I was always curious about those bustling industrious neighbors, wanted to meet them and check out their space. They were cool with others in the neighborhood, and seemed to integrate, rather than a huddling, shivering colony, like the newer lofts down the block .
We had to flee our place, due to shoddy, unnecessarily dangerous conditions. (Anyone else dealt with the elusive "Zef Zafir"? ahem, SLUMLORD.) Still, my partner and I gave it a shot , had a huge pad, and avoided a certain gentrified urban boho enclave. These guys could hang with real New York, not the homogenious "hipster lite" version. Leaving was bittersweet for me- there are good folks of all stations of life, and great kids. I wish Jonathan and Aaron good luck in their new digs, nuff respect!