Cy Twombly Untitled (Say Goodbye, Catullus, to the Shores of Asia Minor), 1994.
Vessel
Egyptian family of four finds respite in New Braunfels, Texas, Habitat for Humanity home.
Location: 701 E. 5th Street, New Braunfels, Texas
Project type: Residential
Project size: 1,200 SF
The design for the Habitat for Humanity home is based on the idea of a vessel. A vessel, whether extravagant or humble, offers security and protection on unpredictable journeys to destinations known and those unforeseen. The idea is appropriate for the Yassa family as they are on their own journey in a new country. The many vessels traveling through Cy Twombly’s painting show movement towards distant, colorful spaces. Twombly has stated the piece depicts his own journeys throughout his personal life and career as an artist. The Habitat home represents the Yassa’s vessel through their journey in New Braunfels, Texas.
Translating space
To express this idea of a vessel, the floor plan shows how the functions of the home are compartmentalized like a ship. The hull, or central part of the home, acts as a connector between the public and private spaces to allow for ease of flow through the compartments. Inspiration for the color story is taken from Twombly’s piece Untitled (Say Goodbye, Catullus, to the Shores of Asia Minor). The energetic lines of the ships referenced in Twombly’s piece inform the materiality in the home through pattern.
Safe harbor
The flooring in the home is indicative of the wood planks of old sailing ships. The use of blues across the visual plane mimics the calm and steady horizon where sky meets sea.