MUSEUM DESIGN FOUNDATION
This adaptive reuse architectural proposal intervenes in an industrial building situated in the harbor of Boston. The building, from the 1950’s, doesn´t stand out by its appearance or its constructive quality. Nevertheless, its structure and columns are a good reference to its history. We focus on maintaining this structure and reusing its internal spatial configuration, as well as reusing its constructive materials.
Intervention
The museum foundation is located on the upper level of the host structure. This proposal shows an apparent rotation from the upper volume. In this way the Museum Design Foundation is oriented more towards the city center, and it visibility from the street is improved. With the “rotation”, new outdoor spaces are created, allowing a better quality space.
By pivoting the upper volume, the internal structures remain to a large extent the same as in the original situation. In addition, two new trusses are integrated to support the triangular additions that result from the rotation. The spaces inside follow the grid determined by the existing columns. In the interior distribution the integration of functional boxes will organize the space. Those boxes will be built by recycling the existing wood of the roof structure that is taken away with the apparent rotation.
Relationship with the museum foundation
The concept of this museum foundation is retrieved from nomadic art. Specifically, it is created while having in mind that ‘Design is everywhere and for everyone’. Besides the main building the museum also involves several installations spread across Boston.
The building functions as a focus point where art will be exhibited, but it also offers functions not provided in the museum’s other city locations nor by the foundations’ website. It offers the visitors the possibility to be aware of all the art and design events happening in the city, as it connects to all installations in Boston. The museum provides a creative context to meet and to discuss about design. For that reason it should have a high visibility and it should attract visitors walking in the area. This is achieved through the introduction of a new envelope, composed by a double façade with rotating louvers that offer an open and transparent look.
