Ghost House is a public sculpture commissioned for Randall's Island Park by the New York City Department of Parks in partnership with the Bronx Museum of the Arts. The concept for Ghost House originates with artist Wilfred Smith's Fences Furniture sculptures. This sculpture uses the often overlooked material to create a delicate three-dimensional drawing of a house executed in woven steel wire and pipe. Ghost House has a footprint of 18 by 24 feet, and stands 16 feet in height. Pro Bono Design Inc. donated structural designs and secured permits for the project. 458 Construction and Fence Company supervised construction and donated installation services.

Debbie Unger, turf manager for Randall's Island Park, once again saves the day and sends in some of her grounds crew to restore the terrain, which before this morning was looking like a gnarly mess.
Photos Courtesy of Michael Vahrenwald

Randall's Island Park in New York City has a new public structure thanks to the pro bono efforts of many. Called Ghost House, it was commissioned by the NYC Department of Parks in partnership with the Bronx Museum of the Arts. The concept for the sculpture originated with artist Wilfred Smith's Fences Furniture sculptures, a series of furniture constructed entirely of chain link fence. All chain link products were generously donated and delivered on site to the project by Illusions Vinyl Fence.

Ghost House expanded Smith's concept to delineate the entire home, inspired by the many baseball backstops in Randall's Island Park. This sculpture uses the often overlooked material to create a delicate three-dimensional drawing of a house executed in woven steel wire and pipe.

Ghost House has a footprint of 18 by 24 feet, and stands 16 feet in height. Industry guidelines were followed in the design and detailing of the structure, using standard chain link fence fabric, pipe, and fittings.

Following a site visit with Eric Peterson, deputy adminstrator for Randall's Island Park, Debbie Unger, turf manager, arrived early one chilly morning to layout the footprint for the sculpture. 458 Construction and Fence Company supervised construction and donated installation services.

Ghost House would need a total of 23 concrete footings for all the necessary posts. In preparation for excavation, the crew used mason's line and spray paint to locate each footing for augering.

The crew arrived in the afternoon to drill the holes with the Bobcat auger. Hiding below the surface was an absurd amount of bricks, concrete and granite. The crew drilled as possible without breaking the auger bit, but more powerful equipment would be required.

Unger suggested ordering some sod for the Ghost House. She sent some of her crew out one rainy afternoon to help get the sod placed.

The sod would prove to be one of the critical parts of the Ghost House installation, making for incredibly inviting carpeting for the entire house.