THE HEAR & NOW
Scale
A Matrix of Neighbourhood Museums |
Artefact 8.1 Right | Proposal diagram Museum Matrix
Instead of reforming the dated ideal of a 'City Museum' I propose a new typology, 'Museum Community'. A matrix will amplify the informal and make its presence irrefutable.
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Cairo's districts are diverse. A series of neighbourhood scale museums scattered across the city will ensure content is relatable and a true representation of reality which caters for all in the community.
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Practicing 'Museum Community' ideals shows awareness of the tricky balance which needs to be struck between controlled content and the chaotic context.
British Museum Conservation Centre (WCEC) |
Artefact 8.2 Left | Images of WCEC (RIBA, 2017)
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Location & Date | London, 2014
Architect | Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Area | 18,000sqm, 9 floors, 20m, 68% below ground
Construction | Concrete frame, translucent kiln-formed glass planks cladding provides shading and privacy.
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Description | A redevelopment on the British Museum site provides a series of museum support spaces. Storage, conservation studios, laboratories and galleries are arranged according to climatic requirements.
Importance of the Archive |
Artefact 8.3 Right | Zoning section of WCEC (RIBA,2017)
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The process of artefact procurement and preservation is crucial to the running of a museum. The WCEC celebrates the background work and creates a vehicle for future contributions and exchanges.
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Staff work together to design new methods with which to preserve and better understand a collection and communicate with the modern world.
Range of Resources Scale |
Artefact 8.5 Right | Proposal diagram Museum Matrix
Assuming the areas of two adjacent museums on the 'Range of Resources Scale' differ roughly by a factor of 2.5, the scale factor between a Neighbourhood and Global museum would be 39.
Museum Spatial Hierarchies |
Artefact 8.4 Left | Analysis of WCEC storage hierarchy
Museum frontages are just a fraction of the complete system, storage typically makes up around 35% of the programme (Mace, 2018). At WCEC a concrete frame surrounds a 5 storey basement archive.
Scaling the British Museum |
Artefact 8.6 Left | British museum statistics (Drew, 2017)
Scaling the global British Museum's internal area of 123,000 sqm by a factor of 39 estimates that a neighbourhood museum with equivalent facilities would require an area of roughly 3150 sqm.
Applying Metrics to Site |
Artefact 8.7 Right | Proposal diagram Museum Matrix
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My site has an area of 1200 sqm. Part of the land should remain clear to respect existing buildings, provide refuge and encourage biodiversity. I will build on 800 sqm or less.
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The museum will therefore be no higher than 4 floors if facilities are spread across the site.
The Brief
Project Ambition |
Artefact 8.8 Right | Implementing ideals
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Memories are connected to objects. Locals will feel empowered if they have the opportunity to share their stories. Therefore presentation is important, not all artefacts are suitable for display in a glass box. 'Museum Community' ideals will test the typical form of an exhibition so content can be represented appropriately.
Narrative |
Artefact 8.9 Left | Initial Concept Sketch
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Reflecting on Cairo's tumultuous past and uncertain present will support the community in finding a means in which to move forward.
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Presenting stories with dignity will expose others to experiences, inspire empathy and reinforce the importance of culture and sense of belonging.
The Brief |
Artefact 8.10 Right | Spatial brief collage
Contextual Development
Social & Cultural Unity |
Artefact 8.11 Left | Initial schedule of accommodation
Museum agendas shouldn't be purely educational. Programmes can be balanced to create unity on a socio-political level.
Small scale institutions can benefit from interacting and listening to the community. A two way conversation facilitates mutually beneficial exchanges.
A City of 'Spires' |
Artefact 8.12 Right | Proposal diagram Museum Matrix
Cairo's skyline ritualises the creation of noise from above the chaotic streetscape. Minarets broadcast Islamic prayer 5 times a day and pigeons towers house and train birds with whistling.
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This symbolism can be replicated in 'Taking Note'. A beacon of reclamation will provide a novel perspective over the context, create awareness and represent the power of the informal.
Parti Development |
Artefact 8.13 Left | Initial concept parti diagrams
'Taking Note' aspires to assimilate and represent the true haphazard nature of the informal city.
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To strike a balance between control and chaos a merger of spatial requirements and contextual influences will drive development.
Next Steps|
Artefact 8.14 Right | Patchwork sketch section
A combination of environmental strategies, exploration of internal atmospherics and acoustics will drive development of form and spatial adjacencies. (See E&T PDF)
