Ice House Detroit Project: Transformation of the American Dream

For me, last week, it couldn’t have been a better day to photograph the Ice House. The sky was blue and the sun was starting to set low, illuminating the house from down the street.

Though it was 29 degrees Fahrenheit that day, trying to freeze over a house while it’s sunny… well… you get the picture, right? Not so easy.

The Ice House Detroit Project was conceived by Matthew Radune, a Brooklyn architect, and Gregory Holm, a photographer and Detroit native. I met with Radune, who had just relieved Holm from an overnight watch. Between the two of them, they split 24-hour shifts, making sure the Ice House stays iced by spraying it down with water.

Soon after I arrived, two more curious passers by parked and got out of their car. Before I knew it, there was a rotation of at least 5 to 10 people at a time, standing around in wide-eyed awe, whispering words under their breath as they raised their camera phones to take a picture of the Ice House. “Wow!” “Huh?” “Cool!” “What happened?” Everyone walking back to their car had puzzled eyes but a smile on their face, slowly driving off bewildered. I wanted to stop and ask everyone how they felt after seeing the Ice House, but I was too busy making my own pictures.

From across the street, standing out of my car’s sunroof, I zoomed in trying to single out some details of the house, when I noticed icicles forming on the second story windows. This struck me as a little odd; as the icicles were starting to replace the panes of glass that once used to help insulate the house from the cold. I kept imagining what it would be like to be inside? What would the air inside the house be like to breath? The sunlight would minimally illuminate the interior through ice windows, like some surreal scene you’d expect to see in a Kubrick film. You couldn’t help but be in a state of wonderment.

So, while the weather continues to preserve this transformation of the “American Dream”, I encourage everyone to swing by 3920 McClellan St. (just off of Mack) and check out this beautiful architectural installation.

I’d especially like to thank Greg and Matt for the sneak peak.

To see more of my photos of the Ice House, click here.