m.Arch - Lucas Wheeler
A provisional museum of light
2021
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Through a procession of spaces, this museum offers a new territorial atlas for people to explore their senses in an architectural experience. The need for the senses to interact with a geography requires design to engage a visitor through a variation of stimulus. Sight and perception are powerful parts of our sensorial apparatus, using it to relate, navigate, and derive meaning from inherent building qualities. Bridging between the natural world and the built world will provide a space of contemplation and become a cultural attraction in part of the regional tourism strategy.
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a new territorial atlas
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In Eastern Kentucky, this site is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest known as the Red River Gorge. It is within a 2-4 hour drive from metropolitan areas and attracts people worldwide.
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site proximity
With increasing popularity, these four counties call for the development of various tourism attractions, an integrated trail network, and the creation of environmental and cultural protections for the area.
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The Red River Gorge is an intricate canyon system that features an abundance of high sandstone cliffs, rock shelters, waterfalls, and natural bridges. There are over 100 natural sandstone arches in the Gorge. The large amount of cliff faces has become one of the worlds top rock climbing destinations. Because of its unusual and rugged geology, it features a wide range of ecological zones.
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In the town Slade, Natural Bridge Road contains the highest concentration of tourist attractions and access points to the Gorge. Few restaurants and shops are paired with camp sites and lodging areas that are dispersed along this road. With approximately 1,000,000 people visiting annually, there are several additions that can benefit the attraction market to serve visitors. With limited developable areas due to protection of the nature preserve, locating this museum off the interchange and adding it among existing businesses improves accessibility.
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site amenities
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This is sited among highly used public amenities in the area. This location will be able to tap into these resources such as lodging, trailheads, and the existing roads. To the East of the river, Hemlock lodge sits on the hillside above the only public pool in Slade. Parking lots for Lakeside Trail and Natural Bridge Trail are located on the North and South ends of the site, that lead into the park. Pictured below is Hoe Down Island, where public events occur. The swell in the Red River is caused by the existing dam north of the site near the Lakeside parking lot.
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Site information
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The vistas available on the site cannot go unnoticed, despite the heavy foliage in the area. The museum capitalizes on the view sheds of rock formations, the valley, and down the river. To the East of the site where the trailheads lead, a famous cliff face named Battleship Rock is visible on the ridge line. The rolling hills and escarpments are framed within the museum generating a direct connectivity to the outside world and creating moments of pause on this architectural hike.
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Site vistas
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Site ecology
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Apertures of a Line develops the notion of a museum without objects. This processional journey focuses on the user becoming the object and immersing them within the existing framework. The visitor evokes the temporality and spatiality of the journey as it emerges from the landscape. The experience of the natural light will guide the journey through a series of conditions that influence movement, duration, and curiosity through the spaces.
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Procession of viewsheds
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During this journey, the experience is reminiscent of lighting qualities encountered when hiking along trails in the gorge. The perception of the user is constantly being engaged by reading spatial conditions they run across. Natural light and visibility to the surrounding context will provide a sense of direction and orientation throughout. These five conditions are abstracted during this journey that constitute spatial ambiguity or visual clarity.
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room experiences
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museum entrance
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The entrance immediately meets people with the decision to embark on the architectural hike or use the public amenities. The linear building mass is contrasted by meandering circulation which creates ambiguity to proceeding spaces. The start of the journey is first seen before turning the corner to the hiker shop. The shop then leads to the social scene of the gallery space and the river bar. People can expect what that route entails. But the initial sight of the museum stairwell raises curiosity.
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floor 01
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Descending into darkness, the beginning of the journey starts down the narrow staircase turning the viewer into a corridor leading to the first room. The opening from the floor harnesses the natural light bouncing off the water and the ground. This shows a direct connection to the hiking path and the river. The rough hewn limestone walls add texture to the light as it creeps in from underneath.
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floor 00
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why am i here visual
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Turning away from the river, the dark corridor guides visitors to the next series of rooms. “Where To Go” relates to a point on a hike when there are no visible spots to orient ones self. The next thing to do is find a spot where you can. Visitors arrive upon dramatically tall volumes that funnel light down into the empty space. The small square atrium reaches to the sky as the striated stone enhances the verticality. The cylindrical volume punctures through the roof as it carries light down to the ground floor. Engaging with the form, the floor steps down for people to enter the aperture. The different geometric openings create visual interest and encourage circulation to and from the spaces.
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floor 00
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where to go visual
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“What to see” relates to moments on a hike where there are glimpses of where one might be able to go, but is not clear on how to get there. This also relates to the time of day to gauge what can be seen. In the morning time, the light is directed at the visitors path, emphasizing slowness. In the evening time, it is directed towards the proceeding spaces. Encouraging haste and movement. The rectangular room incorporates a series of square apertures that create a dotted light pattern. Only being able to see tiny glimpses of the ridge line, the rhythm these apertures create are contrasted by the proceeding room. The large canted skylight separates the room with supporting walls that are flanked by two linear skylights. This delineates time using light with the inherent structure. 31
floor 01
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what to see visual
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These series of spaces establish visual connections to past areas they inhabited. This provides a sense of progress and contemplation of what is shown. The center of these rooms are punctured with various patterns to develop revolving circulation and visual interest. The central room contains a lightwell with oak fins that striate the incoming light. This also allows a visitor to see across the room where a part of the room is masked by a wall. A visitor can crouch underneath it to a view that shows the stairwell they just travelled, the ramped entry, and vistas across the river of the ridgeline.
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floor 02
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where i’ve been visual
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The two ending rooms provide lots of information about the visitors surroundings. The room with the large window frames much of the existing infrastructure. This grounds the individual after a series of varied stimulus and uncertain location. The frame solidifies there is an ending. The following room has an opening with various views framing both the interior and exterior.
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floor 02 orientation
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After proceeding down a long narrow corridor, visitors arrive to a large expansive area that cantilevers over the Red River. An opening in the floor offers a framed view of the Lakeside Trail along the Red River. This area has seating and a bar area for people to enjoy food and beverages over the river. Apertures of a Line investigates the journey of the individual through space and how light can change the behavior of interaction. With the use of daylighting, the quality differs the experience and the perception of space every time. Nature and design have a symbiotic relationship with one another and should coincide.
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river bar
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