Spatial Components

Spiral

This transformation aims to balance the Hirshhorn area and the public area. I created a series of entrances to give an indication to visitors that they are transitioning from public space to the exhibition area of Hirshhorn Museum.

The Museum in Museum: Boundary

Problem 1. No Entrance Transformation

Since the building is floating in the air, it is totally free for people who visit the National Mall to go through the courtyard of Hirshhorn. The boundary between the Hirshhorn area and the public area is not clear enough. However, the courtyard is usually used as an exhibition space. In this case, the collections there are more likely to be damaged, intentionally or unintentionally, due to their exposure.

Before

After

The structure of the base waffle panel has the centripetal characteristic which can be exaggerated to form the entrance. The Museum in Museum: Boundary

Realization

Circulation "Circle of Animals"

Besides serving as the entrance, the walls of 3 sides would also be used as a gallery to exhibit the "Circle of Animals' to increase more exterior exhibition experience. Then I use the same material as the existing waffle to imitate the extruded parts and put an array of projectors on the ground which follow the shape of the walls to create the projection which shows the motion graphics here.

Circle of Animals

Ai Weiwei exhibited in 2013 Projectors

Since the museum is very enclosed, this transformation aims to bring more connection between interior and exterior physically. I focus on the French windows in the courtyard so that the exterior windowless wall should remain intact. I change the facade into a continuous spiral and create a spiral ramp alongside it. The ramp rises from the ground so that visitors can go up and enter through the windows.

The Museum in Museum - Spiral

Problem 2. Isolated Interior Transformation

The exterior facade of the museum is a giant concrete wall with no windows, which supports the entire structure. So it can be a giant sceen for digital artworks. However in this case the museum is very enclosed. The only connection to the exterior space is the balcony on the third floor. It's the only exterior moment of the entire museum experience.

Before

After

Besides using escalators on the ground floor, people can also go up through the ramp.

Visitors enter the museum through the doors transformed from the French windows and continue the interior experience.

After the interior experience, visitors will go back to where they entered, they can choose to go to the next floor either by escalator or through ramp. The Museum in Museum: Spiral

Realization

The illusion of spiral facade is projected on the original facade to show the motion graphics. Meanwhile the ramp would also be used to project the stop motion artworks like a film strip in order to add more exterior experience to the museum in advance.