Materials
The atmosphere in the Art Hub is given not only by the geometry of the building, but also by the use of materials. Due to the lack of local resources in terms of sustainable building, we can not talk about truly sustainable materials as such. Therefore, the choice of materials was influenced by durability and aesthetic appearance. The envelope of the building is reinforced concrete. The hue of the material contrast the colors of the surrounding landscape, therefore highlighting the presence of the building. However, the texture of the material, as well as the turfed top reintegrates the structure into the landscape. Hence, the building can be seen as an alien form to the surrounding context, that has been embraced and nurtured by its adoptive contextual surrounding. A defined direction when designing spaces for exhibitions, is the minimalistic approach that stresses the importance of keeping the materiality of spaces simplistic so that the art is the main attraction. The proposed solution dwells on this approach in terms of materiality, however it doesn’t reduce architecture as a secondary element, but uses it to frame the art. The spacial experiences created differ from where the viewer is standing within the art hub, as the same material
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A HOLISTIC APPROACH
can offer different experiences. Such an example is the use of white plaster walls. Within the exhibition spaces, the walls are being humble to the art. However, within the workshop and classroom facilities, the white walls are used for reflective purposes, therefore increasing the DF of the spaces. Moreover, the core of the building is visually expressed through the dramatic change in materiality from cold, plain surfaces, to warm textured materials. The staircase which wraps around the atrium has is of American Black Walnut
Timber, contrasting the simplicity of it’s architectural context and adding warmth to the interior. An interesting feature is the glazing used in the facade openings. The traditional window has here been replaced with 60mm thick acrylic sheets. The materials can withstand high velocity winds and the weight of the snow, feature typical for the local weather conditions. . Additionally, the material provides an extremely high degree of transparency, reducing the boundary between the inside and the outside
turf timber concrete
Fig. 83. Materials Diagram