Arch 1201 - Design Studio (Elaine Chow): June 2009

The form of my design follows the purpose of my art gallery, in order to accommodate different sizes of art works. I came up with the form and stick to it throughout three weeks. However, there are some major changes in the interior spaces.

The site I have chosen is site 1. I like the long, thin feature of site 1, and it will be interesting to design something which integrate the building into the whole site. Newtown is an interesting, artistic yet a bit of quirky place for me. So , my idea of the art gallery is to create something fun but still fit to the surroundings. In order to do this, my building cannot be too tall, so it is around 8 meters.

The main facade is formed by a significant ramp which trying to draw people into the gallery. The big sliding door/ wall makes a sense of curiosity to the people walking pass it.

My main design theme is to give different experiences to two group of people, people who are truly interested in art and people who don't. People can choose their own way to explore the gallery, thus, the circulation could be simple or complicated.

The style of artists I have chosen are Antony Gormley and Valerie Hegarty. Their art works include small and large sculptures, as well as medium sizes paintings. In order to cooperate with different sizes of art works, I have designed the display rooms in different sizes, tall, thin, short..etc. For those sculptures which span 2 levels, there are special display rooms for them. Thus, people can view the art work from above at level 2 and also from below at level 1.

The ramps in the facade draws people directly into level 2. The pathway then gently leads people into the outdoor space, the outdoor display walls are an echo to the interior walls. Paintings can be displayed on the walls.
By referencing The Jewish Museum in Berlin, I adapted the idea of linking the spaces together visually by little windows. People can visually experience the sculptures or paintings before they actually reach them, again, this can give the sense of curiosity to people.

The pathway then draw people back into the interior spaces, continue leading them down to level 1, which is mainly formed by sliding glass walls. Level 1 contains workshops, common area, stock rooms and the display rooms which spanned 2 levels. Those sliding glass walls are there trying to make confusions to people, thus, they wouldn't know which space is a room and which space is the corridor. The confusion is trying to get people involve to the process of making art work.

There are skylights on the roof of level 1. To draw more natural lights into the spaces, some display rooms are formed by glass walls. The lights would be softer where they are reflected by the walls and glasses. Direct lights would be too strong for viewing art pieces.

At last, people has to pass through the commercial area before approaching to the exit in order to make people purchase the art works more easily.

The apartment of the art dealer is located at the end of level 1, which is separated from the public area. However, the stock room is located inside the apartment, so the art dealer can look after the art works conveniently.

Testing the lightings from the interior. Light from 1st level would also leak out from the skylights.

The wall of 1st level can be taken off, showing the interor space. The 1st level is a large and spacious space comparing to level 2, thus creates a contrast.