- Admission
- Free
- Hours
- Exterior visible 24/7; Interior open Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Duration
- 15-30 minutes
- Parking
- Paid visitor parking is available at the nearby Hopkins Parking Structure on the UCSD campus.
- Access
- Exterior is easily viewed from wheelchair-accessible campus paths; interior has severely slanted floors and may not be fully accessible.
Perched precariously on the edge of a seven-story university building, this fully furnished cottage is a mind-bending art installation by Do Ho Suh. Exploring themes of home and displacement, its interior features slanted floors and slightly tilted furniture that playfully challenge your sense of gravity.
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Designed by South Korean artist Do Ho Suh, Fallen Star is a permanent art installation perched precariously on the edge of the Jacobs School of Engineering building at UC San Diego. Completed in 2012 as the 18th addition to the university's Stuart Collection, this fully furnished cottage appears to have been picked up by a tornado and dropped onto the roof at a dramatic angle.
Visitors who step inside the house will immediately notice the disorienting effect of a five-degree tilt, which contrasts with the perfectly vertical furniture and hanging pictures inside. The exterior features a meticulously maintained garden path, complete with a small lawn, seasonal flowers, and a plum tree, creating a surreal domestic scene high above the campus.
This striking piece explores themes of home, displacement, and belonging, reflecting the artist's own feelings of cultural adaptation when moving to the United States. It stands as one of the most unique and gravity-defying public art installations in Southern California, offering stunning coastal views alongside its psychological intrigue.
Ratings
attractionVisitor Tips
- ◆ Check the Stuart Collection's official website for current public viewing hours, as interior access is highly limited.
- ◆ Combine your visit with a self-guided walking tour of the other fascinating Stuart Collection art installations scattered across the UCSD campus.
- ◆ Park in the Gilman Parking Structure, which offers the closest paid visitor parking to Jacobs Hall.
- ◆ Bring a camera to capture the dramatic exterior angles from the ground before heading up to the rooftop.
Heads Up
- ◆ The five-degree tilt inside the house can cause mild vertigo or motion sickness for sensitive visitors.
- ◆ Interior access is subject to weather conditions and university holidays, meaning the house may only be viewable from the outside during your visit.
- ◆ The roof garden and interior have limited capacity, which can result in short wait times during peak hours.
Common questions
Can you go inside the Fallen Star house?
Yes, the interior of the house is open to the public, but only during specific hours on select days of the week, typically Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visitors should check the UCSD Stuart Collection website before visiting, as access is weather-dependent and subject to university holidays.
Where on the UCSD campus is Fallen Star located?
It is perched on the roof of Jacobs Hall, also known as Engineering Building Unit 1, located in the Warren College section of the UC San Diego campus. The closest visitor parking is located in the Hopkins Parking Structure.
Does it cost money to visit Fallen Star?
No, viewing the art piece from the outside and going inside during official open hours is completely free. However, you will need to pay for hourly visitor parking on the UC San Diego campus.
Is the inside of Fallen Star wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the rooftop terrace and the inside of the house are wheelchair accessible via the main elevator in Jacobs Hall to the seventh floor. Visitors should be aware that the house is built at a permanent five-degree tilt, which can cause a sensation of physical disorientation.