Museum of Enchantment

MFA 2 Design Studio I Spring 2024 an ode to Harry Potter

Shreyaa Dada I Joseph Goldstein

Brief, Client and Proposed Site

Since its opening in 1988, Museum of the Moving Image has been recognized as a major, internationally reputed institution and the only museum in the United States dedicated to exploring the moving image. Situated in Queens, it is a space that advances the understanding, enjoyment, and appreciation of the art, history, technique, and technology of film, television, and digital media. The Museum fulfills its mission through temporary and permanent exhibitions; film screenings; live conversations with artists, filmmakers, scholars, media educators, and other industry professionals.

The project brief is to design a Manhattan-based Museum of Moving Image that augments its Queens-based predecessor. The client has expressed a desire to specifically explore film and media of the enchantment genre, the likes of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, The Hobbit, Game of Thrones etc. The museum aims to act as a moment of respite in the busy city life, allow people to leave their everyday lives momentarily and enter the world of mystical beings and happenings.

The space would continue to have a permanent Harry Potter exhibition and continue to have moving displays of other media in the genre.

Manhattan-based Proposed Site

The proposed site for the new museum is 23W 20th Street. The seven storey existing former parking garage base building has structural columns, fire stairs and a plumbing wall. The brief allows for flexibility to move the fire stairs and plumbing wall. There is also provision to remove floors and insert floor plates at any heights and configuration.

Queens-based Museum of Moving Images

Queens-based Museum and Proposed Site

HARRY POTTER : Sorcerer's Stone

Still Images

Corresponding Floor Plan

Corresponding Section

Corresponding Dialogue UP! GET UP! NOW! WAKE UP! POTTER! WE ARE GOING TO THE ZOO! HA HA HA HA

Background Sound and Music

*knocks aggressively* *knocks aggressively* *door shuts* *feet stomping sound* *louder stomping sound* *falling dust particles sound* *mocking laugh* *mocking laugh*

Program/ Brief

Aunt Petunia approaches Harry’s attic under the stairs, knocking aggressively and demanding him to wake up.

Emotion Incited

Frustration leading to acts of unkindness.

Harry wakes up and looks from his spectacles.

As he is putting them on, there is loud stomping above him.

It is Dudley’s birthday, in his excitement to visit the zoo, and to bully Harry, he is jumping up and down each step of the staircase to disturb Harry below.

Harry feels dust particles fall on his bed owing to Dudley’s stomping.

As Harry comes out, Dudley races him to the attic’s door pushing Harry back in, and racing to the kitchen. Harry falls back on his bed, and Dudley kicks the door shut, entering the kitchen. Harry follows suit.

HARRY POTTER : Sorcerer's Stone

Still Images

Corresponding Floor Plan

Corresponding Section

Corresponding Dialogue

Wow, wow

Background Sound and Music

Program/ Brief

The first year cohort approaches Hogwarts on lamp-lit boats led by Hagrid.

Eagerness for the scene to unfold and reveal what lies ahead. Emotion Incited

Thier first glimpse of Hogwarts : School of Witchcraft and Wizadry.

Woah

Initial reaction of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.

Mesmerised. Shared amazement, being left speechless by the sheer scale and brilliance.

Initial reaction of Susan Bones, Harmoine Granger, and Seamus Finnigan.

Wow, wow

Zooming on the external facade of Hogwarts : School of Witchcraft and Wizadry.

Shared amazement, taking in the wonder of Hogwarts.

Initial reaction of Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom.

Reeling back on Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.

Mesmerised. Unbelievable sight. Reeling back from the initial surprise, and getting excited!

Detail Section

Harry’s Hogwarts Acceptance Letter

Diagon Alley

Hogwarts Express - Station 9 3/4

Sorting of Houses

First Quidditch

Great Hall

Dementors on Hogwarts Express

Dark Mark at Quidditch World Cup

Rebirth of Voldemort - Cemetery

Ministry of Magic Duel

Battle of Hogwarts

Harry Potter vs Voldemort Finale

Conceptual Section Development

Exploring Enchantment Spatially

To enhance the theme of enchantment spatially, I pursued the exploration of vast, overwhelming volumes that evoke moments of wonder. However, when transitioning between two such massive volumes, their impact becomes subdued.

To amplify the reaction to the vast volume, the journey to it is crafted through intimate smaller spaces, accentuating the transition.

In response to the movie analysis and drawing inspiration from the spatial sections of the chosen clips, the volume captures the essence of the compression experienced beneath a staircase.