Koolhaas Houselife

A documentary film by Ila Bêka and Louise Lemoine (2013).

Most films about architecture romanticize the heroic, stoic, and avant-garde aspects of a profession that seems increasingly disconnected from the day-to-day work of improving people's lives through good design. This film gives us a unique perspective on a modern masterpiece, a private residence, Maison à Bordeaux. Modernism works for the architect, but what about the housekeeper?

The film lets the viewer enter into the house's daily intimacy through the stories and daily chores of Guadalupe Acedo, the housekeeper, and the other people who look after the building. Pungent, funny, and touching.

In Columns, Shreya Jasrapuria, AIA, writes:

"This approach provides a fascinating angle, examining architecture not through the architect’s or owner’s viewpoint, but from the housekeeper’s perspective. Guadalupe contends with the intricacies of the spiral stairs as she attends to hard-to-reach corners. She voices concerns about window leaks while rationalizing their forthcoming replacement. She’s curious about the home’s structural support, given no visible columns in the open plan, yet is apprehensive that the house might collapse someday, despite her fondness for its current state. Her candid observations blend humor and authenticity, perhaps even more genuine than Koolhaas’ poetic sketches and design theories."

Architects are undoubtedly creative and disciplined. We are willing to curtail our habits to fit an idealized environment, and oftentimes, the patrons of our high art do the same. The materials and details of high-end buildings take on a life of their own, requiring specialized tools and, most importantly, specialized knowledge to maintain. Is that good design?