JANSEN MEALS: ARCH 5115-06CRN 17376
Part 1: Initial Observations
EDGES 01
BOUNDARIES
PHYSICAL The museum is surrounded by physical obstacles, that hinder the users overall experience. There is no continuous pathway that leads around the exterior of the museum; so, should someone find themselves moving along the back of the museum, they would eventually need to turn around to get anywhere. The building also sits adjacent to a busy road, making the trip to the park across the street seem disjointed.
Barriers between the Museum and the Park.
Dead end at the back of the Museum.
Solid gallery floating above the water.
Underwhelming entrance to the back of the Museum.
Park stairs adjacent to the river.
Lack of separate bike lane for cyclists.
VISUAL Visual barriers, including the surrounding busy roads, exist throughout the site, and negatively affect the experience one has there. The ‘entrance’ to the public ‘park’ area behind the museum, is nothing more than a service alley that does not invite or welcome visitors in any way. A large, opaque box, hovers above the water and begins to create a somewhat interesting visual moment; however, does not engage with the site at all.
LACKING A lack of boundaries is an issue that also should be addressed when investigating the site. No designated lanes for bikers exist, so that leaves cyclists with a choice: to either walk their bicycle along the sidewalk, or ride it in the middle of a busy street (neither good choices). An area where an absence of boundaries has been successful however, is in the park across the street, where the stairs of the plaza step down into the river.
EDGES 02 ENGAGEMENT
Inside, the museum does not engage the exterior environment; a seemingly missed opportunity. Environment surrounds and is amplified when the user is outside + under the overhang.
The back of the museum overlooks the Charles River and has views to Cambridge and Boston. While the scenery is impressive, the path leading to this area could be enhanced; as well as, better attract the user to the surroundings.
Back of the museum (top image) does not engage with the water as well as the Nashua Street Park, across the street does (bottom image). Different methods for better connecting with the water, such as the Street Park should be explored.
Section
Part 2: Research + Review
Inside, the museum does not engage the exterior environment; a seemingly missed opportunity. Environment surrounds and is amplified when the
science
park
E D G E S
P H Y S I C A L The museum is surrounded by physical obstacles, that hinder the users overall experience including the building itself, partition walls, and fences. There is no continuous pathway that leads around the exterior of the museum; so, should someone find themselves moving along the back of the museum, they would eventually need to turn around to get anywhere. The building also sits adjacent to a busy road, making the trip to the park across the street seem disjointed.
Dead end at the back of the Museum.
user is outside + under the overhang.
Barriers between the Museum + Park.
jansen meals
N
TRANSITIONAL
Underwhelming entrance to the back of the Museum.
Framed views under the overhang.
V I S U A L Visual boundaries exist throughout the site, including the surrounding busy roads; which, negatively affect the experience one has there. The ‘entrance’ to the public ‘park’ area behind the museum, is nothing more than a service alley that does not invite or welcome visitors in any way. A large, opaque box, hovers above the water and begins to create a somewhat interesting visual moment; however, does not engage with the site at all. Whereas, when a user is beneath the overhang, auditory qualities of the river are enhanced, while views of Boston /Cambridge are framed.
Transitional edges, help to inform the users opinion, and gauge the functionality of the site. No designated lanes for bikers exist, leaving cyclists with a choice: to walk their bicycle along the sidewalk, or ride it in the middle of a busy street (neither good options). Areas with success in transitioning occur where concrete blocks are used as a divide between soft and hardscapes, creating funcional seating areas. Another success is in the park across the street, where the stairs of the plaza fade down into the river, allowing groups to gather and better interact with the water.
Back of the museum (left) does not engage with the water as well as the Nashua Street Park does (right). Different methods for better connecting with the water, such as the Street Park should be explored.
Solid gallery floating above the water.
Lack of separate bike lane for cyclists.
While the idea of ‘visual edges’ diverges from the other tangible types of edges, it is still important to approach it from the same perspective. Creating visually impactful spaces is highly important, especially when attracting visitors.
Seating areas in the open patio area at the Museum entrance.
The back of the museum overlooking the Charles River.
Part 3: Mid-review
edges jansen meals
01 analysis
Existing
overview
Potential
overview
Building
overview
01 barrier
Disconnects from surrounding site + does not allow for continuous circulation.
01 barrier
Meurthe Development Banks, FR Atelier Cite Architecture
01
AT&T Long Lines Building, NYC John Carl Warnecke
01
02 partition
Creates a separation that allows for visual connection, without function.
02 partition
Village on False Creek, Vancouver Merrick Architecture
02
Luigi Bocconi University, Milan Grafton Architects
02
03 limit
Clearly defines two different spaces and does not promote harmonious connection.
03 limit
Copenhagen Harbour Bath Bjarke Ingels Group
03
Statens Museum for Kunst, CPH C. F. Møller Architects
03
04 function
Allows for a usable area that promotes acticity and interaction.
04 function
The Park, Prague Cigler Marani Architects
04
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg Herzog & de Meuron
04
05 guide
Denotes two highly different areas, without a major intervention.
05 guide
Pathless Park, Moscow Diller Scofidio + Renfro
05
Joanneum Museum Extension,Graz Nieto Sobejano Architects
05
06 engage
Creates a smooth transition allowing for maximum interaction + minimum obstruction.
06 engage
The Floating Piers, Sulzano, Italy Christo + Jeanne-Claude
06
Moesgaard Museum, Aarhus Henning Larsen Architects
06
Roads Green Line Definite Barriers Limiting Edges Transitional/Engaging Edges
review
review: imagining
review: imagining
02 manifesto
Issue: The Museum of Science exists as a disjointed, underwhelming, and underutilized site built at an automotive scale. The road links Boston and Cambridge, while currently, the Museum divides the Charles River and parks, without acknowledgement. A series of changes need to occur, in order to make this a successful and desired location.
manifesto
Issue: The Museum of Science exists as a disjointed, underwhelming, and underutilized site built at an automotive scale. The road links Boston and Cambridge, while currently, the Museum divides the Charles River and parks, without acknowledgement. A series of changes need to occur, in order to make this a successful and desired location.
•
Unify the Museum of Science and surrounding area.
•
Solidify the MoS as an integral element to the fabric of Boston.
•
Eliminate pedestrian obstacles + link the museum to parks and greater Boston.
•
Promote the museum (through installations, advantageously placed at popular attractions in the city etc...)
•
Engage + Educate the public by using ecological advancements /opportunities.
•
Develop a more user-friendly museum entrance, at human scale.
•
Challenge the existing site boundaries.
•
Identify as a destination.
manifesto
manifesto image
03 proposal
01 circulate
02 gather
03 denote
04 integrate
parti: base volume
simplify geometry
Promote the museum Identify as a destination.
augment entrance
Develop a more user-friendly museum entrance Challenge the existing site boundaries. Identify as a destination.
entrance promenade
Eliminate pedestrian obstacles
continuous path
Eliminate pedestrian obstacles Develop a more user-friendly museum entrance, at human scale.
elevate plaza
Unify the Museum of Science and surrounding area. Eliminate pedestrian obstacles Engage the public Challenge the existing site boundaries.
link+engage
site plan
Part 4: Final
edges science park jansen meals
01 review
Existing
Potential
Building
review
Function
Engage
review
Allows for a usable area that promotes acticity and interaction.
review: function
Creates a smooth transition allowing for maximum interaction + minimum obstruction.
review: engage
N
Roads Green Line Definite Barriers Limiting Edges Transitional/Engaging Edges
review
review: imagining
review: imagining
02 manifesto
Issue: The Museum of Science exists as a disjointed, underwhelming, and underutilized site built at an automotive scale. The road links Boston and Cambridge, while currently, the Museum divides the Charles River and parks, without acknowledgement. A series of changes need to occur, in order to make this a successful and desired location.
manifesto
Issue: The Museum of Science exists as a disjointed, underwhelming, and underutilized site built at an automotive scale. The road links Boston and Cambridge, while currently, the Museum divides the Charles River and parks, without acknowledgement. A series of changes need to occur, in order to make this a successful and desired location.
•
Unify the Museum of Science and surrounding area.
•
Solidify the MoS as an integral element to the fabric of Boston.
•
Eliminate pedestrian obstacles + link the museum to parks and greater Boston.
•
Promote the museum (through installations, advantageously placed at popular attractions in the city etc...)
•
Engage + Educate the public by using ecological advancements /opportunities.
•
Develop a more user-friendly museum entrance, at human scale.
•
Challenge the existing site boundaries.
•
Identify as a destination.
manifesto
manifesto image
03 proposal
01 circulate
02 gather
03 denote
04 integrate
N
04 integrate
05 program area
exhibition: 140,000 sf
omni theater: 8,100 sf
planetarium: 3,000 sf
museum shop: 5,000 sf
cafe: 5,500 sf
admin/back of house: 125,000 sf
museum expansion: 134,000 sf
additional program: 67,000 sf
base volume
Allow for phased construction
identify existing anchors
Promote the museum Identify as a destination.
augment anchors
locate program
Develop a more user-friendly museum entrance Challenge the existing site boundaries. Identify as a destination. Eliminate pedestrian obstacles
engage pedestrians
movement paths
Eliminate pedestrian obstacles Develop a more user-friendly museum entrance, at human scale.
link + define campus
edge type implementation
rendering
N
site plan
N
site plan
N
level -01
science live stage + animal enclosures dinosaur + nature exhibits loading + storage
up
up
N
level -01
N
level 01
theatre of electricity, science stage + exhibits, engineering modeling world, design build cafe + shop planetarium+ omni theatre fabrication workshops, lecture hall, retail space
up up
N
up
level 01
N
level 02
secondary entrance + gallery
dn
dn
dn
N
dn
level 02
N
level 03-7
continuing galleries and classrooms
dn
N
level 03-7
N
level 08-12
administration + offices
N
level 08-12
N
level 13
restaurant + rooftop lookout
N
level 13
section
section
section
section
section
section
north elevation
south elevation
interior rendering
interior rendering
rendering
rendering
rendering