Snarkitecture Creates the Ultimate Fun House in Washington DC

Each year the National Building Museum in Washington, DC celebrates the warmer months with its Summer Block Party exhibition. This year, New York-based architecture firm Snarkitecture took over the museum’s great hall with a temporary structure, aptly dubbed Fun House. Putting an unconventional spin on the traditional home, Fun House features a multitude of interactive rooms, some showcasing Snarkitecture’s past projects, others presenting new concepts designed specifically for the show.

Snarkitecture members Alex Mustonen, Daniel Arsham, and Benjamin Porto in The Beach.

Snarkitecture was cofounded in 2008 by Alex Mustonen and Daniel Arsham, and later joined by Benjamin Porto in 2014. The collaboration focuses on the intersection between art and architecture, and emphasizes the importance of experiential spaces within the built environment. Since its inception, Snarkitecture has created immersive installations for brands such as KITH and Calvin Klein, as well as for fairs, including Salone del Mobile and Design Miami.

Fun House starts in the “front yard,” allowing viewers to make their way through the house, from playroom to bathroom to living room, experiencing each unique space. The house serves as a timeline of the firm’s ten-year history, beginning with earlier projects, like Dig (2011), and ending in the “back yard” with Playhouse (2017). And if you missed Snarkitecture's wildly popular installation, The BEACH, commissioned by the museum in 2015, you'll have one more chance to jump into a sea of white translucent balls—this time, in a kidney-shaped pool.

Stop by for a quick dip in the ball-pit before the exhibit closes September 3. nbm.org