RETHINKING OF ROTHKO CHAPEL CHEN DING & YE SU 2018
RETHINKING OF ROTHKO CHAPEL
This is a self-development project after visited Mark Rothko chapel who is one of the most infulential artist in art history. The Rothko Chapel is a non-denominational chapel in Houston, Texas, founded by John and Dominique de Menil. The interior serves not only as a chapel, but also as a major work of modern art. On its walls are fourteen black but color hued paintings by Mark Rothko. The shape of the building, an octagon inscribed in a Greek cross, and the design of the chapel was largely influenced by the artist. Susan J. Barnes states “The Rothko Chapel...became the world’s first broadly ecumenical center, a holy place open to all religions and belonging to none. It became a center for international cultural, religious, and philosophical exchanges, for colloquia and performances. And it became a place of private prayer for individuals of all faiths”
Sadness, stifle, death, has always be used as the word to describe Mark Rothko’s painting. Also, Mark Rothko used word “penetrable ” to describe his work. To me, his work is not only represented emotion of himself but also depicted a miserable space in two dimension world, which is one of the reasons he uses the large scale of canvas for his artwork. This building is a place for meditation and his work is the trigger for meditation. To me, the chapel is the stage for these masterpieces. Architecture language can promote the emotion for the artwork, which I think is one of the regrets of exist-chapel design by Philips Johnson. After came back from Houston, I redesign the chapel.center.t.eel..ent..that space.osphere.
The Idea Of Space The Idea of the building is to let people feel the power of art by using architecture language
This free hand drawing is for the sense of the site. The site has strong dimension since the exist sculpture by Barnett and the water poll. I hope that the energy of the site become stronger with the distance goes far from the center.
In the West-East side of the building.Architecture should be the center of energy for the people. people’s body should feel the energy, architecture of this two site should be the popular spot.
This diagram shows the energy on South-North direction of site. The building should perform as a crack of the core which contains all the energy. Once the crack open, all the energy should be an attraction let the people to feel.
Same as the left diagram. This diagram shows the energy of building in EastWest side. The crack of building on East-West side should distribute the energy to attract people by using architecture language.
Every painting has its own energy. If we have a linear arrangement of art, each art build its own atmosphere(energy).To me, this is not how Mark Rothko’s idea. He believed that his work should work together to build a single space in order to become a trigger of meditation.
By a polar arrangement of every painting. The atmosphere of central space build will be shaped by 14 painting.
The Drawing for the sense This free hand drawing shows the sense of design and site. They didn’t has actuall meaning but the sense mind
Exist Building Plan
Re-Design Plan Site Plan The new building will provide more possibility for different activities.
Thick wall not only provide shadow for building, but also let body to produce the desire to enter the building.
The building contain different layer of space which has differnt light zone, sky light provide enough light for art work.
The dimension of painting is 6 meters wide and meters hight so, the distance of central space should be carefully designed.
Building has 3 differnt layer: entrace, gallary room, and meditation space.
Exterior Rendering East-West side will be use as landscape for people, architecture provide motivation for enjoy the landscape
LANDSCAPE The landscape should be concerned as an important part of this building. Not only architecture but also the landscape build up the emotion of people. The building was surrounded by water, which lets the building to has a connection with the surrounding environment.
VOID OF FACADE Every void space in this building has its own meaning. The idea of this building is penetration. Penetration can be either achieved by eyes and body. So the voids are the trigger of the penetration. The void lets body and eyes know the layers of building and indicate that the building is penetrable.
A-A Section Different fuction of space will have different light condition.
LIGHT ZOOM Light is not only the media between eyes and world but also the trigger of meditation. Dim light will promote meditation happen. So, the different light zoom will be arranged basic on the function of different space. However, in order to provide enough light for the gallery, a skylight is needed for that space.
THE WEIGHT OF SAPCE
ART WORK AND BUILDING
The quality of the space is not shaped by the visual system but our sensor organ around our body. The weight of space can be built by wall thickness, the echo situation, the temperature can shape the atmosphere which fit Mark Rothko’s painting. So, different wall thickness will be arranged basic on the requirements of different atmosphere.
As i mentioned before, the arrangement of paint is required by Mark Rothko. Also, the trigger of meditation in the meditation room is another art sculpture by Bernett Newman. In the gallery space, 14 paintings shape the atmosphere together.
B-B Section Landscape will be an important part of architecture to shape the atmosphere together.
LANDSCAPE OF SURROUNDING The function of this space is not only the storage space wor painting, but also a public space for different activity. So the terraces of public space provide multi-function space for the chapel and different activities are allowed to happen here.
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Plan Of Building The quality of space is not only shape by the geometry and art works but also the landscape and the thickness of wall