Walking around Brooklyn, New York, The Williamsburg Houses are barely noticeable or distinct from the bustle of the big city. But step into the courtyard and slip into a rare sense of community. At the time the Houses were built, they were a utopian vision in a depression-era slum, even with five abstract modernist murals in the basement community rooms. Now a protected Landmark, the buildings were designed to foster interactions between people and are studied around the world. Since 1935 The Williamsburg Houses have been home to 3000 low-income tenants at a time in a rapidly gentrifying New York City.
In The Williamsburg Houses viewers explore in a timeless composition how the concept of a house intersects with architecture. Through the voices of its occupants dive into the depths of the politics and history of a structure. Exploring the remains of an initially utopian design in a contemporary context, we become immersed in the life of a building and a community.
