Manifold

5th Year Design Studio

SCI-Arc

2013 Fall Semester

Instructor: Wes Jones

Movement in architecture is often implied and movement is often discussed in architecture in the context of procession or a few simple components changing position. Architects like Santiago Calatrava experiments with movements as constantly changing form. But what if an entire building can move?

This studio experimented with the idea of movement of entire large buildings. Movement is treated as an architectural design component. The form of the building has a direct relationship to the choreography of the movement of the building. 

The project brief calls for a proposal for the Broad Museum in Grand Avenue in Los Angeles. 

The time scale, the adequate time period required for the full routine of movement to be performed, the circulation through the design of the building and the relationships between each moving components are center of this experimentation and discussion. 

My proposal experiments with the idea of the seductive dance between two components of the building. The design starts as a monolithic form. It splits in two and begins to dance around each other, teasing and inviting the other component to join the dance. One component performs while the other component steps aside to feature the performance. The two components formally reacts to each others movement with indentations and dimples. 

The two components act as if they were individual objects, only making formal and gestural relationships. The large apertures on the 7th level of both components provide spectacular views to both the city and each other.