WHAT: Press Launch for Making Room: Housing for a Changing America, unveiling the first scheduled transformation of the 1,000-square-foot, flexible dwelling from the current configuration – housing for roommates – into a home for a 21st century extended family
WHO: Chrysanthe Broikos, Curator, National Building Museum
Sarah Watson, Deputy Director, Citizens Housing & Planning Council
Lisa Blecker, Director of Marketing, Resource Furniture
Pierluigi Colombo, Designer/Art Director, Clei
WHEN: Thursday, February 22, 2018; 10 a.m. – Noon, and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Following the previews, media contacts are invited to stay for the Opening Night of the Architecture & Design Film Festival: D.C., beginning at 7:00 PM.
WHERE: National Building Museum
401 F St NW
Washington, DC
Red Line Metro: Judiciary Square
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Focused on the 21st-century housing needs of a changing America, the National Building Museum’s Making Room exhibition is poised for the first scheduled transformation of the exhibition’s centerpiece-the 1,000-square-foot “Open House” built within the galleries. This unique, fully-realized, flexible home-currently configured to accommodate four roommates-will be transformed to accommodate one of the nation’s most typical and increasingly common household arrangements: the multigenerational, extended family.
The Open House features a hyper-efficient layout, movable walls, smart technologies, and multifunctional furniture, allowing the space to meet the needs of a variety of today’s growing but underserved households. In contrast to the initial layout which optimized privacy for its occupants, the new iteration of the home will allow a multi-generational household to live communally, but with flexibility.
In the new scenario, a grandmother lives with her adult daughter and grandson. During the day, the moveable wall between the seating and studying area can be retracted to create a shared living space-the grandmother’s area is separate and tucked away if she wants to retreat. In the evening, moveable walls allow the family to carve out a dedicated bedroom for the grandson and his mother. This set up allows the adults to move freely throughout the rest of the house when the child is asleep, and even entertain.
The Open House is anchoring the National Building Museum’s stunning exhibition, Making Room: Housing for a Changing America. Organized with the Citizens Housing & Planning Council and presented in partnership with Resource Furniture and Clei, Making Room showcases the latest solutions designed to meet the needs of America’s diverse households.
In addition to The Open House, the exhibition highlights cutting-edge projects that housing entrepreneurs (architects, designers, and allied housing advocates and policy makers) are taking to expand housing options, including:
” Micro-apartments in New York City
” Shared housing experiments in the D.C. area
” Backyard accessory cottages in Portland, Oregon
” Tiny houses that are helping the formerly homeless in Austin
” The boom in cohousing communities
And, later this year, The Open House will again be transformed into a space accommodating a retired couple.
PRESS ARRANGEMENTS & MATERIALS
Space is limited; Media should RSVP to Emma Filar at efilar (at) nbm (dot) org by February 16, 2018.
During the February 22 Press Launch, media can walk through and experience the “Extended Family” scenario in The Open House, which will feature innovative solutions for maximizing space.
Press materials and images can be found at go.nbm.org/makingroompress. Required caption and crediting information is provided in the folder. Please contact Emma Filar at efilar (at) nbm (dot) org or 202.272.2448, ext. 3458 with questions or requests for interviews.
Making Room: Housing for a Changing America is organized by the National Building Museum and the Citizens Housing & Planning Council in partnership with Resource Furniture and Clei.
The exhibition is generously supported by AARP Foundation, Andersen Corporation, Hufcor, National Association of REALTORS®, the American Society of Interior Designers, AJ Madison, Electrolux, Elica, and Miele, Ceramics of Italy, Ditto Residential, Nixon Peabody LLP, Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, Arris Apartments, Casaplex, Ernest Rust- European Kitchens, LISC, Protek, Wiencek + Associates Architects + Planners DC, LLP, and CHPC Partners Curtis + Ginsberg Architects, Dattner Architects, FXFOWLE Architects, SLCE Architects, GF55 Partners, and RKTB Architects.
In-kind support is provided by Resource Furniture and Clei; AJ Madison, Electrolux, Elica, and Miele; Andersen Corporation; Benjamin Moore & Co.; Capitol Closet Design; Casaplex; Ceramics of Italy, Caesar Ceramiche, Ceramica Vogue, Ergon, Gruppo Romani, MAPEI, and Tagina; Cerno; Duravit USA, Inc.; Eastbanc, Inc.; Ernest Rust- European Kitchens; FLOR; Geberit; GINGER; Häfele America Co.; Hansgrohe; Hufcor; In2Green; Neoscape; Newfloor; Novità Communications; Opticos Design, Inc.; Precision Door and Hardware; Protek; The Joyce Agency; and Vaghi.
About the National Building Museum
The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to advancing the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, web content, and publications, the Museum has become a vital forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the world we build for ourselves. Public inquiries: (202) 272-2448 or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.
About the Citizens Housing & Planning Council
Citizens Housing & Planning Council is a nonprofit research and education organization focused on housing in New York City. CHPC’s mission, since 1937, is to develop and advance practical public policies to support the housing stock of the city by better understanding the most pressing housing and neighborhood needs.
About Resource Furniture
Resource Furniture is the original – and largest – source for cutting-edge, multi-functional living systems, offering the most inspired and innovative furniture solutions available in the world for more than 15 years. With showrooms in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Mexico City, Resource Furniture continues to define and revolutionize the industry by offering the most technologically innovative, space-saving and sustainable products in the world, all of which transform any space with both beauty and functionality. For more information visit resourcefurniture.com.
About Clei
Based in Brianza, Italy, Clei, s.r.l. has been the global leader in the design and manufacturing of smart, transformable furniture since 1963. With a focus on research and innovation, the second generation of the Colombo family continues to maintain the standards set by their founding fathers, producing the most innovative and highest quality products available. Clei’s unique, patented furniture is distributed worldwide to an ever growing and increasingly appreciative audience. Clei.it
About Jeffrey A Simmons
Jeffrey Simmons is Executive Vice President of Anat Gerstein, Inc., a NYC-based firm representing nonprofits.
Contact:
Jeffrey A Simmons
jeff (at) anatgerstein (dot) com
