Thorsen House

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DirectorVioleta Bagazgoitia Gracia
LocationBerkeley, California, US
Year2025
Duration10:00
CategoryStudent Film

An exploration of how place, architecture, and human presence shape one another over time. By focusing on the Thorsen House—a historical landmark—I wanted to examine the tension between permanence and transience: a revered building inhabited by generations of college students. Through quiet, observational shots and brief interviews, the film considers how cultural values embedded in architecture continue to live on through everyday rituals and care.

The project was also an exploration of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. These ideas are expressed not only in the house’s material details but also in the lives of its residents, who occupy the space temporarily yet maintain it with near-ritual devotion. By observing moments of stillness alongside communal gatherings, the film reflects on nostalgia, belonging, and the cyclical nature of youth. Ultimately, the film explores how a built environment can act as both a historical artifact and a living home, continually reshaped by those who pass through it.