insidewalk

Houston, like all cities, is in a constant state of flux. Unlike most other cities, Houston is hardly in love with its own past, particularly its architecture and neighborhood histories. High rates of demolition and development with no interest in historic preservation erase and change its urban environment at a relentless pace.

Every construction sign has a specific but unrecorded history of locations and uses within the city and can act as a silent reminder of changes in the past. The reflective sign is also a crucial piece of infrastructure from the perspective of the automobile but is hardly ever looked at by pedestrians. Particularly at night, it is large, awkwardly placed and passive until headlights transform it into a reactive information object.

"Insidewalk" is an archive of past demolition and construction. The interior of 2505 Holman is wrapped with old orange reflective warning signs that have been cut down to the dimensions of the house’s original materials. These orange signs, used exclusively in construction to mean change or danger, can now only hint at their former meanings and where they were once used in the city. The inside of the house is illuminated by flashlights located just inside.