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castii

an entry for an invited competition for a new center for art, science, technology and innovation/integration (in collaboration with v+).
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1 – geography of use. landscapes of inhabitation vary in scale.

2 – superstructure. the building creates multiple orientations.

3 – ground floor axonometric. program areas overlap and flow together to create diverse scales of activity within the fixed building envelope.

4 – second floor axonometric. the organizational structure is set up through a series of enclosed, fixed volumes of differentiation for activities with specific functional requirements.

5 – long section. both distinct and contiguous, the spaces are loosely organized and remain open to one another and are arranged to intensify an active interior environment.

6 – visual relations occur and encourage interaction between the various participants and visitors in the building.

7 – front elevation. different layers of space, from the street, to the recessed entrance, through the lobby to the fablab.

8 – the active occupation of space depends to a large degree on how a place can be used.

9 – view into fablab. the grid serves as a reference point for the various scales of enclosures and an undetermined range of encounters. (image credit: maxime delvaux)

10 – view into lobby. intended as a space for public events and exhibitions, the lobby also functions as a meeting and gathering place for both the public and the participants and staff of castii. (image credit: maxime delvaux)

the intention of this proposal can be stated very simply: to open-up castii. this happens both through the building itself and simultaneously through the production of knowledge as represented by the various disciplines and activities. rather than focusing on a single idea or overarching concept to determine a fixed set of relationships between the constituent elements of the space, the design structures an organization that emphasizes the experience of public encounter with scientific and artistic activity.

exhibition areas are open to a wide range of media and methods of display. the fablab is open to public observation and individual research and curators are encouraged to work between disciplines and across communities.

the value of castii comes not from the specific functions of individual spaces and programs but rather from the possibility of exchange between them; learning through fabrication, production through exhibition, research through public engagement, etc.

the plan is based on the daily routines, activities and interactions of users. access into the building is defined for the different user groups. within the building the organizational structures, work processes and physical consequences are adapted in a systemic way in order for important points of interaction to emerge from existing everyday patterns of use.

the different enclosures of  castii are defined by different wall types within a similar language of materials and finishes. the material directly relates to the type of activities that occur in each space. curtains, wire mesh, glass, and brick offer a range of privacy, security and transparency.

a 1,25m grid overlays the entire space and acts as the underlying organizational system. countering the segregation of the existing buildings spatial configuration (ground floor/second floor; front space/back space; inside/outside) this grid unifies the space. castii is a single continuous environment, non-hierarchically organized; no program or activity is given importance over another; every point on the grid is identical.

last updated November 5, 2024