Paul Rudolph's iconic Walker Guest House is currently being showcased at Basic.Space LA, reanimated with a curated selection of items from A$AP Rocky's Hommemade studio. This three-day event, held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, centers around Rudolph's 75-year-old modernist structure, which is celebrated for its unique system of adjustable wooden panels and cannonball counterweights. Visitors have the opportunity to acquire design pieces from over 80 artists and galleries, both on-site and online, with the renowned house itself also available for purchase at $2 million. This presentation marks a significant public appearance for the house, which has largely been in storage since its acquisition at a Sotheby's auction six years ago.
A Contemporary Vision for a Modernist Masterpiece
This weekend, Paul Rudolph's architectural marvel, the Walker Guest House, is being brought to life at Basic.Space LA, an event featuring a unique collaboration with the multifaceted artist A$AP Rocky. Situated at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, this three-day, invite-only retail experience highlights the 75-year-old modernist structure, celebrated for its ingenious system of movable exterior wooden panels counterbalanced by 77-pound cannonballs. Jesse Lee, founder of Basic.Space and owner of Design Miami collector's fair, articulated the event's theme, "Own the Future," emphasizing discovery not just of the new, but also of cool vintage finds, encouraging attendees to acquire a piece of what they love. The house, presented with its original furnishings and a contemporary twist, is available for purchase at $2 million. This marks the second instance Basic.Space has offered a 20th-century architectural masterpiece for sale, following the successful sale of the Jean Prouvé Gas Station for $1.5 million last year. A$AP Rocky, through his furniture and interior design studio Hommemade, has infused the Walker Guest House with a carefully selected array of items from his personal collection, including a 2021 Tom Sachs Shop Lounge Chair and a 1971 Super Studio Onos Bed. His curation also features a vibrant marigold-colored Estudio Compana Bolotas sofa from the 1970s, psychedelic Gaetano Pesce dining chairs from the 1990s, and an striking oversized Gufram Cactus, aiming to create a space that feels intentional yet lived-in, playful yet luxurious. Rocky expressed that Hommemade's philosophy is about storytelling through environment, inviting people to experience design with the same immersive quality as music. This event represents Hommemade's first major public showcase, with all displayed design objects available for purchase, bridging the gap between historical design and contemporary consumer access. Lee noted that Los Angeles's dynamic atmosphere and favorable climate facilitate such innovative, boundary-blurring collaborations between art, fashion, design, and architecture, a ethos mirrored in Rocky's diverse career. The house, previously unseen by the public since its original creation for the Walker family and subsequent sale, now stands as a testament to creative reinvention, introducing foundational design histories to new audiences.
This innovative exhibition of the Walker Guest House, enhanced by A$AP Rocky's vision, prompts reflection on the evolving intersection of art, design, and commerce. It challenges traditional notions of how we interact with historical architectural pieces, transforming them from static museum exhibits into dynamic, experiential spaces. The initiative underscores the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to breathe new life into established works, making them relevant and accessible to a broader, contemporary audience. This blend of past and present, high culture and popular influence, sets a fascinating precedent for future design showcases and offers a compelling new model for engaging with architectural heritage.