An unorthodox building recently joined the New York City skyline: a recreation of the house from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.
Built on the roof garden of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for Cornelia Parker’s exhibition “Transitional Object (PsychoBarn),” the structure was inspired by Edward Hopper’s painting “The House by the Railroad,” which in turn served as the original inspiration for Norman Bates’ iconic home in the film.
So where does the “barn” part come from? Parker was intrigued by the thought of juxtaposing a red barn with the urban modernity of New York City. The structure is made from parts of a real barn. PsychoBarn, like the house from Psycho, is not a real house, but rather a set made of propped-up flats. Look behind the installation and you’ll see that it’s just a facade.
New York isn’t the only place where you can see the famously sinister dwelling—you can also see the Psycho house, along with the Bates Motel, on the studio tour at Universal. A short journey away from the Met, you can also see the Hopper painting on display at the Museum of Modern Art. Take a look at the exhibition in this video and explore it yourself. Fittingly, PsychoBarn’s last day will be on Halloween.
