Exhibiting Landscape: Wei Bridge Museum Mitchell Clarke Team Members: Jesse Jones Jessica Philips Liu Jia Luo Jing Gao Yuanfeng
Research Analysis
Precedents
Precedent Analysis_New Acropolis Museum Architect: Bernard Tschumi Location: Athens, Greece
Located in the historic of Makryianni district, the Museum stands less than 1,000 feet southeast of the Parthenon. The top-floor Parthenon Gallery offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Acropolis and modern Athens. The Museum is entered from the Dionysios Areopagitou pedestrian street, which links it to the Acropolis and other key archeological sites in Athens. With 8,000 square meters (90,000 square feet) of exhibition space and a full range of visitor amenities, the Acropolis Museum tells the story of life on the Athenian Acropolis and its surroundings.
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Site plan
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Volumetric analysis
The collection is installed in chronological sequence, from pre-history through the late Roman period, but reaches its high point (literally and programmatically) with the Parthenon Frieze. The visitor’s route is therefore a clear, three-dimensional loop. It goes up from the lobby via escalator to the double-height galleries for the Archaic period; upward again by escalator to the Parthenon Gallery; then back down to the Roman Empire galleries and out toward the Acropolis itself.
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Circulation analysis
Interaction with ruins above
The rich collections provide visitors with a comprehensive picture of the human presence on the Acropolis, from pre-historic times through late antiquity. Integral to this program is the display of an archeological excavation on the site: ruins from the 4th through 7th centuries A.D., left intact and protected beneath the building and made visible through the first floor. Other program facilities include a 200-seat auditorium.
Interaction with ruins below
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Precedent Analysis_Danish Maritime Museum Architect: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) Location: Helsingor, Denmark
The Danish Maritime Museum had to find its place in a unique historic and spatial context; between one of Denmark’s most important and famous buildings and a new, ambitious cultural centre. This is the context in which the museum has proven itself with an understanding of the character of the region and especially the Kronborg Castle. Like a subterranean museum in a dry dock.
Site plan
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sectional bridging of museum
Three double-level bridges span the dry dock, which serve as both an urban connection and provide visitors with short-cuts to different areas of the museum. The harbor bridge closes off the dock which serves as the harbor promenade; the museum’s auditorium serves as the connection between the Culture Yard with the Kronborg Castle; and finally the sloping zig-zag bridge navigates visitors to the main entrance of the museum. This bridge is viewed as a connector of the old and new as visitors descend into the museum overlooking the surroundings.
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Precedent Analysis_Sveta Nedelya Square Architect: NC-Office Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
The project’s strategy was to provide a cleary defined plaza for mass congregation in the heart of Sofia. The architect’s plan to achieve this was to propose a plan that would “peel” away from the northern elevation of Sveta Nedelya Church and float over the street adjacent. This “plane” alludes to the historical use of ancient Serdika.
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The purpose of the competition entries were to provide a solution for transportation and communication issues, functional-spatial solutions of the street level, exposure of the archeological heritage, urban and architectural spatial development, landscaping of the environment, and monumental handling of the square and adjacent areas. In this proposal, the geometric lines of the plaza are carried over from the angles introduced by the Roman Cardus and Decumanus, and the Forum. The architects sought to make a proposal to extend the existing the underground level, considering that the ruins would be uncovered and then to provide a connection to the subway system to the south. Three levels are presented then in the proposal; the floating plaza, the street level, and the archeological level.
Interaction of plaza and archeological site
Site analysis (plazas)
Site analysis (boundaries)
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Context + Intervention + Archeological site
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By introducing the floating plaza, it essentially doubles the ground plane. The intention is to have clearly defined congregation area but with a variety of overlaps between the levels; the idea being generated from Eduardo Chillida ‘Gravitacion’ series. One can see flat planes engaging in several overlaps and providing a series of layer which could in turn be read as archaeological, or perhaps even geological formations. The most symbolic aspect of our proposition is that all human interventions are a part of a larger time-frame. Furthermore, the floating plane is split into two areas. The larger portion acts as a more formal plaza, as well as an artificial hill. The grassy area alludes to natural formations before the foundation of Serdika. The smaller portion of the plaza is conceived as a direct extension of the Sveta Nedelya Church. Geometrically it is a pure square and it could be used for open-air sermons as well as for weddings or other such services. The archaeological level consists of two main extensions from the existing subterranean level. The east extension begins at Sveta Petka Samarjiyska and its angle is derived from the Roman Cardus/ Decumanus grid. This corridor leads past the floating plaza and extends south to the Theological Faculty. The other extension connects the existing subway entry and the west side of Vitosha Boulevard. The corridors are lined with small scale retail as well as information stations regarding Serdika and its subsequent historical layers.
Ancient Silk Road route
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11 Ancient Silk Road route
This site is located in China’s Shaanxi province in the northwestern periphery of Xi’an. The city and its surroundings have a long history as the capital of ancient Chinese dynasties, dating back over three millennia. During the Qin dynasty several palaces were built up on both sides of Wei River. The Heng Bridge was first built to connect both sides. The Han dynasty built tombs and an uptown area to the immediate north of the Chang’an city on the opposite side of the Wei, necessitating the need for the construction of the Middle Wei Bridge. Later on, the East and the West Wei Bridge was built to connect the Yang, Mao, and Ping tombs. When the Tang dynasty moved the Chang’an capital to the southeast, the bridge became less used. During the Ming and Qing dynasty, the Wei River migrated north of its previous location to where it remains today, leaving the “Three Bridges” forgotten. Aside from connecting the Chang and An dynasty tombs to the city, the 880-meter long Middle Wei Bridge provided Chang’an with the most direct access to the land north of the Wei River. The bridge is also notable for its diplomatic role when Zhang Qian first set out on his journey west, sparking the beginning on the Silk Road.
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Wei Bridge + Chang’an boundary
Transportation analysis of Xi’an (current)
The site can be accessed by automobiles from the road bordering the west of the site with a parking lot to the northwest corner. Proposing the expansion of the existing railway repair station to include programing for passengers would allow visitors to access the museum via train. A pedestrian bridge will be built over the highway bordering the south of the site in order to connect the ancient city of Chang’an with the Wei Bridge. The Wei Bridge was recently found in April of 2012 while mining for sand. Two pits have been excavated uncovering several rows of wooden support columns, a boat, and stones used to divert the strength of the river away from the bridge.
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Han Dynasty boundary
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Site in relation to urban context
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Overall site analysis
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Open field conditions
Areas of excavation
Chang’an city boundary
Urban periphery
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Exhibiting Landscape: Wei Bridge Museum
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Aerial view of site
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LEGEND 01. Pathway to site 02. Entrance to gallery spaces 03. Campsites 04. Open field conditions 05. Gallery spaces 06. Rail station
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Site plan (current)
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Site intervention analysis_Composite
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Site intervention analysis_Fields
Site intervention analysis_Buildings
Site intervention analysis_Plazas
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Axonometric view of site in urban context
Open field condition Wei Bridge remains
Rail Station
Open field condition
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Gallery spaces
Wei Bridge remains
Historical Chang’an city boundary
Axis of Wei Bridge
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Site circulation_Primary
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Site circulation_Secondary
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The primary focus in the design of the proposal revolves around the axis provided by the Wei Bridge. All the components of the project branch from this main datum and aim to frame its historical relevance. The primary circulation runs in a loop starting at either the south or north entrance, along the bridge’s axis, through the museum, and the western landscaped area. The project presents many secondary forms of circulation that give access to other features, such as other exhibitions, a rock garden, plazas, cafes, etc. This provides visitors with a multitude of potential experiences, and hopefully, a desire to return. The southern entrance is favored for those with the time to have a fuller experience of all the museum has to offer. It targets pedestrians, many of whom may be travelers beginning a journey along the Silk Road and wish to spend up to several days learning about the history of the trading route and meeting other travelers.
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Entrance to museum
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Floor Plan | Courtyard level
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LEGEND 01. Gallery space 02. Theatre 03. Welcome center 04. Mechanical room 05. Restrooms 06. Open plaza 07. Wei Bridge remains 0
Floor Plan | Plaza level
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Accommodation is an option provided for these visitors through the campground located in the southwest of the site, and can be checked-in to after entrance. Just to the west of the campground is the lengthy converted brick structure which houses tales and historical information pertinent to the Silk Road, along with a cafe on the second floor giving a western view of the site. Following the main circulation from the southern route will take visitors across the first pit on a constructed glass floor that hovers above the Wei Bridge pillars, giving a unique visual access similar to walking across it in ancient times. After crossing the first exacted pit, visitors may branch off on a secondary route to explore the rock garden in the west portion of the first pit, which also provides juxtaposed views of the relics through a glass wall stretching the length of the excavation.
Plaza level interaction with glass boxes
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Section | Entrance
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Continuing along the primary route will take the audience across an introduced stream, giving the sense of flow that existed during the bridge’s time of use. The circulation then leads way to an opening carved into the western hill, although visitors may also continue to the second excavation site along the open axis. The entrance in the hill is the beginning of the museum’s indoor exhibitions, leading visitors through a hallway that’s end turns to the opening of the plazas or continuation to the main museum through a tunnel carved out between two rows of un-excavated pillars of the ancient bridge, showcasing them in the glass walls of the tunnel. On the other side of the tunnel, visitors go up a few steps and into the main museum. In front of them lies a glass wall that provides a viewpoint of a grotto. The stream empties into this underground body of water, which is accessible for recreational enjoyment by those camping on-site.
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Entrance to museum at plaza level
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Gallery looking out
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Circulation analysis of building and courtyard
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Circulation analysis of building and plaza
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Arches louvre system
Structural arches
Open plaza
Glass boxes
Gallery spaces
Wei Bridge remains
Subterranean courtyard
Building components (analysis)
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Clear Glass
Frosted Glass
Secondary Framing
Primary Framing
Articulated Ground Condition
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Interior view of subterranean courtyard
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The circulation continues through the exhibitions of the museum with interweaving openings to the second excavated site at the base of the relics as well as above them at ground level. The uniqueness of this pit is the discovery of a boat just to the east of the relics and which the center of the museum is built above in order to showcase. The visitors then have the option to exit through a tunnel leading north from the pit and emerging at the base of the tower. The structural arches above its axis continue south at a dissipating frequency until reaching the southern-most extent of the 880-meter long Wei Bridge. This aspect gives comprehension to the construction of such a massive feat, which took place over two thousand years ago. After into the train station, travel along the Silk Road is an option this proposal hopes to encourage. Visitors from the north may simultaneously enter the museum at this point and follow the previously described itinerary in reverse. For those with a short time frame, entering from the north is recommended as it provides quick access to the main points of interest the museum has to offer. Visitors doing a full route will be able to walk along the peaceful pathway to the west, through trees and fields of flowers, to return to either the north of south entrance without having to retrace their steps at any point.
Field condition/agriculture
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Edge condition analysis
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Sectional study of axial condition through courtyard
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References: Alison Furuto. “’Floating Plaza’ Competition Entry / NC-Office” 04 Jul 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed 11 Jul 2015. <http://www.archdaily.com/397561/floating-plaza-competition-entry-nc-office/> “Danish National Maritime Museum / BIG” 21 Oct 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed 11 Jul 2015. <http://www.archdaily.com/440541/danish-national-maritime-museum-big/> “Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor“ 24 Mar 2010. UNESCO/CLT/WHC. Accessed 11 Jul 2015 <http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/441> “New Acropolis Museum / Bernard Tschumi Architects” 27 May 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 11 Jul 2015. <http://www.archdaily.com/61898/new-acropolis-museum-bernard-tschumi-architects/> “The 2013 New Discovery of Wei River Bridge Site in Xi’an” 11 Apr 2014. Institute of Archeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Accessed 11 Jul 2015 < http://www.kaogu.cn/en/ Special_Events/2013_Top_10_Archaeological_Discoveries_in_China/2014/0411/45798.html > “The bridges over the Wei in the urban areas of Chang’an (Xi’an)” 12 May 2013. German Archeological Institute. Accessed 11 Jul 2015 < http://www.bridging-eurasia.org/en/node/328 >
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Exhibiting Landscape: Xi’an China Summer 2015
East Asia Program
School of Architecture University of Florida In Collaboration with: Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology
Project Leader: Mitchell Clarke
Team:
Jesse Jones Jessica Philips Liu Jia Luo Jing Gao Yuanfeng
Professors: Albertus Wang Martin Gold Haiqing Chang Jing Su Qingnan Tong Hanru Wu
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