Third Space

Wood, metal, cement, glass, brick, plastic, paint

Inès Kivimäki is an artist based in Los Angeles. Third Space combines architectural maquettes imagining the International Institute’s possible futures, photographs, custom furniture, and a film—alongside  practical interventions and improvements developed through engagement with community members and IISTL staff. The models are integrated across IISTL into newly designed spaces for clients and visitors, informed by Kivimäki’s aesthetic and practical suggestions.

Outside the gymnasium, Third Space (Gymnasium) honors and reveals the gym’s historic lamella roof, an architectural feature that is now covered and invisible. This diamond-grid roof structure was patented in 1921 by German architect and designer Friedrich Zollinger. In 1924, it was adapted to shield the IISTL gymnasium, then known as St. Elizabeth Academy. The surrounding vitrines show Kivimäki’s artist film, which documents her research and process developing Third Space. The artist has also curated materials from IISTL and the SEA archive from the St. Louis Public Library.

Credits: 

Thank you to Nora N. Khan, Corey Waters, Rodney Gonzalez, Brody Albert, Filip Kostic, Colleen Hargaden, Trent Sindelar at the St. Louis Public Library, Devin O’Shea, Josh Kayden, Heather Jaconis, Mahmud Barekzy, Kelly Moore, Neema Kakozi, Ashraf Khazaalah, Sayed Akram Sayedi, Grace Murekatete, and Zlata Bilkan, and a special thanks to everyone at Counterpublic.

This project is supported by a grant from the Vilcek Foundation.

Wood, ferrite magnets, paint

Third Space (Toy) is a meticulously designed children’s model of the IISTL, crafted with handmade magnetic tiles. The sculpture is meant to be played with, allowing children to piece together the building from surprising angles and vantage points. It is placed in a newly created kids’ room for visitors of all ages.

Credits: 

Thank you to Nora N. Khan, Brody Albert, Chris Brady, Corey Waters, Paige McClellan, Leroy Stevens, and a special thanks to everyone at Counterpublic.

Wood, metal, cement, stone, brick, plastic, paint

Third Space (Big Maquette) is a fully realized architectural model of the IISTL building, drawing on the history of the maquette. Kivimäki presents this cross-sectioned maquette with its ceilings removed. The work blurs the line between model and environment— a speculative double that holds the building’s present condition in tension with what it might become.

Credits: 

Custom furniture was made possible by Los Angeles-based artist Gegham Sargsyan and his fabrication studio Creative Grounds. Thank you to Nora N. Khan, Corey Waters, Gegham Sargsyan, Kylen McMorran, Chris Brady, Marianne Laury, Devin O’Shea, Josh Kayden, Heather Jaconis, Eva Agüero, Cleonique Hilsaca, Mahmud Barekzy, Kelly Moore, Neema Kakozi, Ashraf Khazaalah, Sayed Akram Sayedi, Grace Murekatete, Zlata Bilkan, and special thanks to everyone at Counterpublic.