A$AP Rocky Reimagines Paul Rudolph Guesthouse for Basic Space Auction

This article explores how A$AP Rocky and his design studio Hommemade outfitted the interiors of Paul Rudolph’s 1951 Walker Guest House for a two-day online design gallery sale hosted by Basic Space.LA. The project blends architectural history, on-site installation, and curated contemporary and historical design.

The event took place at Los Angeles’s Pacific Design Center. It offered a mix of furniture, sculpture, and collaborations in furniture-making.

Project scope and architectural context

The Walker Guest House is a defining example of Rudolph’s modernist modular approach. It features a steel-grid skeleton, wooden wind flaps weighted by metal orbs, and stilts that lift the structure above ground.

After arriving from a remote Florida island, the house was relocated to California in 2020. It was stored and reassembled for public viewing.

At Basic Space.LA, the interior was refurbished to highlight the building’s engineering. The house hosted a curated collection of furnishings and artworks spanning decades of design history.

A two-by-four board system is retained in the interior. This reveals where sections were cut for transport and supports an artwork by Maurizio Cattelan.

The transport and display narrative

The reassembly process was treated as part of the design narrative. The building’s cut lines were preserved to document its journey and maintain structural integrity for display.

This approach allows visitors to see the architecture’s history through its fabric and joints. The interior becomes a backdrop for a dialogue between mid-century design and contemporary production.

Interior curation: past meets present

Hommemade and Basic Space.LA worked with a local architecture studio to curate an interior that places contemporary pieces alongside landmark historical works. The selection includes pieces by Gaetano Pesce and 1980s Memphis Group designs, such as Ettore Sottsass’s Carlton Bookcase.

The living room features a mix of color, texture, and form. Visitors are invited to reinterpret the space as a living archive.

Highlights of the living room include a sofa by Raphaël Raffel and the 2015 Bolotas Armchair by Estudio Campana. Newly commissioned tables from LA studios Caleb Engstrom and Willett complete the arrangement.

The curation balances artisanal craft with mass-produced design. This creates a layered narrative about production, accessibility, and collectability in contemporary interiors.

Furniture highlights and collaborations

• Raphaël Raffel sofa in the living room
• Estudio Campana Bolotas Armchair (2015)
• New tables by Caleb Engstrom and Willett
• Historical pieces by Gaetano Pesce and Ettore Sottsass (Memphis Group)

Rooms that tell the story: kitchen, bedroom, and display details

The kitchen pairs mid-century appliances with a playful sculpture—a furry cactus produced in collaboration between Gufram and Hommemade. This expresses the whimsy that often travels alongside high design.

The bedroom houses a studio piano by Thilo Oerke and a late-1960s Superstudio bed owned by A$AP Rocky. This bed is the only item not for sale, highlighting the blend of saleable and collectible elements in the event.

Event details and what to expect at Basic Space.LA

Basic Space.LA hosts a two-day sale and exhibition on 28–29 March at the Pacific Design Center. The event features installations, including Rudolph’s Walker Guest House interiors.

Other curated shows include Rick Owens at Carpenter Workshop Gallery and Pierre Jeanneret pieces from Chandigarh. Photographer Matthew Kavanagh documents the installation, highlighting the blend of architecture, objects, and context.

This installation shows how a historic modernist structure can become a gallery venue while keeping its original design features. The partnership between a contemporary artist-entrepreneur and a design-focused gallery sets an example for future exhibitions that combine preservation, commerce, and modern design in one space.

 
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