jiří příhoda's 'generator' is a creative sanctuary inside the CCC art museum, beijing

fusing art, sculpture and architectural forms, jiří příhoda continues his investigations into the nature of space and solitude in a new collaboration with the czech china contemporary art museum, beijing. příhoda’s creations — usually taking the form of simple, temporary rooms or dwellings — become autonomous extensions of the sites on which they are built. his previous constructions, which have included a glow-in-the-dark curved pavilion in prague and a diverse series of sculptures within a baroque palace, both integrate with and interrupt the world around them, creating secluded spaces for spiritual sanctuary.

the ‘generator’ is located within the czech china contemporary art museum, beijing
all images by martin hurych

jiří příhoda was originally invited by gallery owner zdenek sklenar to create the space in 2014. located within the studio zdenek sklenar gallery at CCC art museum, sklenar’s commission called for an interior addition capable of facilitating both conventional tasks like studying and sleeping, that would also serve as a sanctuary for mental seclusion and creative inspiration. the resultant chamber would eventually be used as a base for a two month residency within the museum, providing artists with a new space for creating work.  

the exterior is wrapped in anti-corrosive corrugated metal

příhoda’s final design is a ‘house within a house’, a sky-lab which hovers three meters above the studio floor. making use of dead space, příhoda nestled the lab into the corner between the studio’s ceiling and the indent in the wall created by the roof of an adjoining toilet. made from stainless steel, plywood, styrofoam, drywall and anti-corrosive corrugated metal sheets, the dwelling is divided into the almost completely cylindrical sleeping section and the half cylinder entry/living space, and is accessed through a wooden stair that descends into the gallery below. příhoda’s use of in-vaccum glued composite panels (produced by variel) allows him to create non-standard structures, capable of being sculpted into a variety of adaptable shapes. 

the container is accessed through stairs that lead down into the gallery space

entitled ‘generator’, the cylindrical appearance of the interior suggests a gradually increasing velocity, an effect which doesn’t detract from the dwelling’s inherent sense of peace. the chamber is imagined both as workspace to foster creative ideas, and as a creative generator in and of itself. each artist that resides in the ‘generator’ is invited to redesign or arrange its interior to suit their own aesthetic needs. the project also suggests a possible solution to the lack of dedicated studio space for artists in cities and art institutions worldwide. rising rent and concentrated urban developments has made functional, affordable studio space a rarity, with many companies seeking solutions through modular, easily assembled workshops (see previously). the ‘generator’ suggests an adaptable, unobtrusive structure capable of inhabiting disused or unconventional spaces that would otherwise go unfilled.   

the generator is intended to be used for a series of three-month artist residencies

a circular design suggests motion, but is neither claustrophobic nor overbearing

the metal, which is shaped to accommodate its unconventional location, creates surprising architectural forms

the commission called for a creative space, that could also be used for rest or study

the project suggests a possible solution to the lack of dedicated studio space for artists in cities worldwide

glued composite panels allows příhoda to create non-standard structures

each artist that resides in the generator is invited to redesign or arrange its interior to suit their own aesthetic needs

the studio inhabits what would otherwise be dead space within the gallery

the generator is located in the studio zdenek sklenar gallery at the CCC art museum, beijing

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