House Renovations

An Interview with Charlie Vinz, Architect-in-Residence

OX-BOW HOUSE HOURS

153 YEARS!

OX-BOW HOUSE MOVED INTO DOWNTOWN

DOUGLAS IN 2022, BUT THE BUILDING ITSELF WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1870.

As an Artist-in-Residence in 2016, Charlie focused on fiber arts. At the time he was already a well established architect, and joked he was “cosplaying as a fiber artist.” During his time on campus he challenged himself to use materials within a specific radius. This same philosophy Vinz has also applied in his architectural practices. He seeks out localized resources whenever possible to minimize the carbon footprint of his projects. The history of Ox-Bow House excited him in this regard. With Saugatuck’s roots as a logging town, it’s likely the wooden structural support of the building (originally constructed in 1870) came from the surrounding land. In the future, Vinz hopes to create a resources map that hypothesizes where materials were originally sourced from. These conjectures are one of Vinz’s favorite aspects of adaptive design projects. Most recently, by finding the geometric center of the building, Vinz was able to unveil center court of the old athletic club.

When asked how Ox-Bow House fared in comparison to other projects, Charlie laughed. The words “one of a kind” tumbled out of his mouth soon after. It’s not too often that an architect receives three years to conceptualize a project, he acknowledged. “Architects are deliberate and thoughtful in any kind of process,” he said, and the nature of the three-year residence has allowed him to relish in that process. In his approach, his top priority is public interfacing.

Charlie created a “viewing hole” to see the layers of the building

In early conceptualization, Vinz proposed transforming the building’s accessible entrance into the main welcome way. He didn’t want anyone to feel like they had to use the backdoor. This ended up dictating much of the rest of the layout. “Things fell into place from there,” he said.

A year into his residency, Vinz still has plenty of hopes for what he’ll accomplish and ample time to realize those dreams. He invites all those curious about the project to visit OxBow House. His studio is available for viewing and his collection of books serves as a “public bibliography” for his architectural approach. And if you see Vinz in the House, he assures that he always welcomes conversations with visitors, especially if you have a story or two to tell about the building’s history.

CHARLIE VINZ (he/him) is an architect, designer, and artist who searches for simple solutions to complicated problems. In his approach, cultural production is an extension of the built environment, which is part of an open-ended, collaborative process. Vinz studied architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and Bauhaus Universitat in Weimar, Germany, graduating with a BArch in 2004. He has worked at architecture firms in Chicago, with artist Theaster Gates and Rebuild Foundation, and was the Creative Director of the Rebuilding Exchange before starting his own practice, Adaptive Operations, which primarily adapts buildings and spaces for new and different uses and works with artists and cultural organizations. Vinz is currently an Architect-in-Residence at Ox-Bow.

Please check our website and stay abreast of our newsletter for summer office hours and other programs with Charlie. www.ox-bow.org/oxbow-house

Shop The House

year-round, mutable retail gallery that supports the work of local and regional artists and Ox-Bow alumni. In addition to original artworks, the Market also offers Ox-Bow merchandise, art books, and supplies. During low-season (November–April) the Market expands its footprint at Ox-Bow House. Throughout the year, the Artist Market hosts special events, featured artists and pop-ups.

Ox-Bow House and the Artist Market are part of the Art on Douglas Second Saturday Gallery Strolls from 11 a.m.–7 p.m.: June 10, August 12, September 9 and the Saugatuck & Douglas Fall Gallery Stroll on October 14.

From May to August the Artist Market will feature biweekly Featured Artists in small curated solo shows. Mark your calendars and join us for a closing reception on: May 27, June 10, June 24, July 22, August 5 and August 19. Check our website for more information.