502 STUDIO SCHEDULE

INTER[IOR] INTER[VENTION]

This project’s challenge is to understand the special character of the place and to sensitively introduce design solutions within the built fabric that help stimulate life within the environment. For this challenge two inter[ior] inter[ventions] were designed by chosen objects from nature.

The first interior intervention takes inspiration from the veins of a magnolia leaf for the double-height entrance lobby of the Art Institute of Chicago. The existing skylight structure in the institute will be replaced with a new skylight that derives its form from the rhythm of veins and the color of a magnolia leaf.

As Norberg-Shultz explains, "color is one of the things that determines the environment character." The color of the magnolia leaf introduced in the skylight, draws attention to the play of light and color in the entrance lobby. The rhythm of the veins give a sense of movement to the space, thus reinforcing the genius loci of the place.

The second interior intervention is in the one of the floor of Spertus, Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Chicago. The space was designed to be an art gallery. But now it is a space for public event, which resulted in the exhibit area being shrunken to a small area hidden from the event space with curtains. The new design brings the essence and characteristic of a seashell, which are layers, protection and enclosure, to the exhibition to protect and define a specific space for the precious objects of exhibition. As Norberg-Shulz (1980) states “…enclosure becomes a center which may function as a focus for its surroundings”, the objects of the exhibition are being protected while the area has its own definition. This is because of the arrangement of the exhibition. Also, since “the enclosing properties of a boundary are determined by its openings” (Norberg-Shulz, 1980), the external wall shows part of what is hidden behind it in order to invite and engage people to the small exhibition.

Source: Norberg-Schulz,Christian (1980). Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture. Academy Editions.