KIMBERLY GROVU
Form, content and meaning in the Architecture Museum
Form, content and meaning in the Architecture Museum
What is architecture?
It is structure and mass. The permanent and immovable elements that, when joined, we come to read as buildings.
It is the containment of space. The capture and molding of the volume – visible to us only through our senses.
It is the curation of experiences. An intervention unto the relationship of mass and void to carve out the setting for our everyday lives, be they functional or extravagant.
To me, architecture is all these things, and more. But, taking into account my personal experience with the field - the people I’ve met, the things I’ve researched, the places I’ve been – I realized that these definitions neglect to highlight that architecture is a field founded on a wealth of knowledge, countless unglamorous hours of designing and revising, and a mass addiction to caffeine. And so, I propose the following:
Architecture as the result of its PROCESS.
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It is structure and mass. The permanent and immovable elements that, when joined, we come to read as buildings.
It is the containment of space. The capture and molding of the volume – visible to us only through our senses.
It is the curation of experiences. An intervention unto the relationship of mass and void to carve out the setting for our everyday lives, be they functional or extravagant.
To me, architecture is all these things, and more. But, taking into account my personal experience with the field - the people I’ve met, the things I’ve researched, the places I’ve been – I realized that these definitions neglect to highlight that architecture is a field founded on a wealth of knowledge, countless unglamorous hours of designing and revising, and a mass addiction to caffeine. And so, I propose the following:
Architecture as the result of its PROCESS.
The following building is a result
of the spaces captured by an enclosing form. It’s purpose within the site is to
adopt the existing listed church as a to-scale built model for study, an
legitimate artefact imbued with history, technical expertise in building and
craftsmanship, and the containment of a grand space to host grand events. My
approach thus far has been to leave the building with interventions occurring
in unique spots and at varied levels made accessible to the public circulating
throughout the space. The floor slabs and major concrete walls slice into it
and each other to define, large and light spaces designed flexibly to host
multiple purposes as demanded by the building’s ongoing use. The 3
above-ground levels host the most public and architectural-design-related
elements and offer varied spatial experiences in terms of height and
transparencies. As of now, it is effectively designed as a blank slate that
encourages movement and discovery and can be made adaptable to the
ever-changing and ever-progressing industry.
Alongside its intended use as a container for display of artefacts and installations of public interest, this proposed Museum of Architecture is designed as a “Centre for personal and professional growth that will promote Research, Debate and Discovery.”
A space for creation, inspiration, and play.
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Alongside its intended use as a container for display of artefacts and installations of public interest, this proposed Museum of Architecture is designed as a “Centre for personal and professional growth that will promote Research, Debate and Discovery.”
A space for creation, inspiration, and play.
