Shenzhen Museum of
Contemporary Art, Shenzen
2007
EMERGENT
Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art
Shenzhen, 2007
DESIGNER: EMERGENT Tom Wiscombe, LCC
PRINCIPAL: Tom Wiscombe
DESIGN TEAM: Kevin Regalado
Chris Eskew
Gabriel Huerta
Sebastian Hiemisch
COST ESTIMATING: Davis Langdon Adamson
Urban Concept
This proposal for MoCA/PE creates a world-class institution which is characterized
by both its response to its local environment but also by its formal and
structural elegance. The project embraces the concept of the northern
part of the Futian Center District as a traditional Chinese courtyard
space. In order to bound and intensify the monumental scale of this courtyard,
the building massing is designed as a mirror reflection of the L-shaped
YAH building massing. This move creates a defining corner for the urban
space.
A Garden Plaza is located in the void created by the L-shape, which serves
as a meeting point and gateway to the cultural delights offered inside
the new building. This Plaza is connected to the Central Library and the
YAH via pedestrian crosswalks. The space is defined by a cantilevered
roof which encloses the space and offers climate protection. It features
a landscaped topography which also serves to define the space while leaving
it permeable to the outside urban environment. This space is a lush and
tropical atmosphere including public amenities such as gift shops, bookstores,
and cafes, allowing museum visitors sanctuary from the stresses of city
life.
Organizational Concept
The design is based on integrating the MoCA and PE programs into a single
unified project with a distinct presence in the city. The programs are
easily unified due to their similar typology and functional requirements.
Unification of the programs also allows for a greater efficiency due to
reduction of redundant circulation and public amenity spaces. All of the
exhibition space for both programs is located in loft-like spaces in the
L-shaped volume. These are open-plan spaces with high clear ceiling heights
which can be reconfigured easily as exhibits change. Support spaces for
these exhibition spaces, including administrative spaces, the PE Library,
and a restaurant, are all located in this part of the building as well.
A crystalline Foyer connects these spaces together via escalators and
elevators. This Foyer acts as an environmental buffer between the Garden
Plaza outside and the more controlled exhibition spaces, in terms of temperature,
humidity, noise, and light levels.
The Garden Plaza is a hub connecting the Foyer to the Landscape as well
all of the related public functions such as Cultural Services, Auditoriums,
Conference Rooms, VIP Entry, and the underground parking garage. This
space is accessible from all sides and will become an urban destination
for people just passing by as well as Museum visitors. It is spatially
defined on all sides by topography, plantings, furniture, and the Plaza
Roof, creating a highly specific and integrated environment. The Plaza
Roof, in combination with plant-life and water features, creates a high-performance
urban microclimate utilizing natural ventilation and evaporative cooling.
Design Concept
The design of MoCA/PE is based on structural morphologies found in nature,
both in terms of their aesthetic and performative characteristics. Specifically,
lilypads were examined for their biomathematical logic which includes
a network of deep veins underneath their surface which support their wide
diameters. Although lilypads float on water, their overall stability is
determined by the depth, number, and distribution of these veins. The
building structure similarily spreads over architectural surfaces according
to force flows, driven by a rule-based system of branching and computational
subdivision.
Ultimately, the morphology of veining and structural surface relief begins
to contribute to the overall architectural sensibility of the project,
beyond the simple solution of engineering problems.
Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art images : EMERGENT architects Jul
2007
Shenzhen Architecture
Emergent Architecture
Tom Wiscombe is Principal at EMERGENT. Tom was formerly a partner at Coop
Himmelb(l)au
Akron Art Museum
Coop Himmelb(l)au with Emergent Architeture
BMW Experience & Delivery Centre, Munich
Coop Himmelb(l)au with Emergent Architeture
Tom Wiscombe: 1993 MoMA Summer show at PS1
6010 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 303, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 938-1475 office
www.emergentarchitecture.com
Design and Technology Faculty, SCI_Arc
www.sciarc.edu
Shenzhen : Chinese buildings
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Shenzhen Architecture, China - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt