Open House is an interactive, temporary public sculpture located in Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston. Houston based artist collaborative Havel Ruck Projects was commissioned by Houston Downtown Management District as part of their Art Blocks initiative.

The artist duo began the project by sourcing a small 1940’s house from the Houston area and transporting it to the park grounds. The interior and exterior walls of the house are perforated with various sizes of circular cut outs creating a transparent screen effect. The interior of the house is wallpapered with a collage of historic images from Houston’s early history. The openings act as peepholes to the present while looking through images of the past. Viewers are able to stroll through the house, translating the visual puzzle of early history while viewing the skyline of present-day Houston. Open House encourages viewers to consider their city’s historic roots rather than shedding them to make way for the new.

At night when the park is closed, the house is lit from within, acting as a architectural lantern next to the urban skyline.