Performance
Node
Advanced Studio - Bernard Tschumi
In collaboration with Kavyashri Cherala
SITE + CONCEPT For the first time in his teaching career, Bernard Tschumi assigned a physical site for his studio. He chose a difficult one. The provocation was to design architecture in the public space of Morningside Park. Additionally, this location was the site for the infamous Columbia Gym proposal that sparked riots on Columbia’s campus in 1968, and led to violent clashes between students and police. The loaded assignment begged the question, is the site of a project just the physical place?
THE APPROACH The multimedia Performance Node is not so much a solid building as it is an operative armature that supports a multiplicity of performance types on its interior and enables spontaneous performance in its surroundings. The Performance Node does not force connection by lunging to either side, nor does it hide underground in hopes that passivity will prevent tensions. Instead, the Performance Node focuses activity at the center of Morningside Park’s neutral territory, re-orienting the adjacent communities from gazing across the
park at each other to participating in the performance of architecture. The Performance Node seduces inhabitants with concentric layers of architectural language; light canopies that follow the curves of the park, a tensile membrane that doubles as projection screen, dense infrastructural scaffolding, minimalist stone clad volumes, and lastly, an infinite interior with no corners and a velvet black finish from which no light escapes. Here, they encounter new forms of performance.
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Charles Vincent Thornton
Columbia GSAPP
Advanced Studio - Bernard Tschumi
Performance Node
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left A multiplicity of performance space types are stacked vertically, ranging from pure open space of rehearsal at the top to an immersive dome of multi-media experience on the bottom. top r ig h t Paths of dense lighting canopies contrast the sparse placement of existing fixtures. b ot tom r ig h t Adjacency to transit and amenities on either side is conducive to intersection. n e x t s pr e a d Different frequencies, amplitudes, and organizations of movement across the site.
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Charles Vincent Thornton
left The building mass mimics the original gym proposal while everything else is different. A tensile facade system allows glimpses in and supports projections on the exterior. top r ig h t The winter sun reaches into the covered plaza. m i ddl e r ig h t Elevator cores double as landmarks, providing wayfinding along major sightlines. b ot tom r ig h t A bright under-belly calls attention to the public plaza in the center.
Columbia GSAPP
Advanced Studio - Bernard Tschumi
Performance Node
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Charles Vincent Thornton
Columbia GSAPP
LEFT
top r ig h t
b ot tom r ig h t
Egress stairs for the stacked program double as public stairs to traverse the site, creating a zone of exacerbated activity wrapping the building,
Structural diagram: bridge/lateral brace, inhabitable structure, open performance space, wrapped circulation, public elevator/structure.
Orientation diagrams (from top to bottom): orientation implied by slope, rotating for communal view, destabilizing alternatives.
Advanced Studio - Bernard Tschumi
Performance Node
BRIDGE/LATERAL BRACE
INHABITABLE STRUCTURE
OPEN FOR PERFORMANCE
WRAPPED CIRCULATION
ELEVATOR/STRUCTURE
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Charles Vincent Thornton
ALL Circulation and orientations of program create a spiral of activity at the performance node.
Columbia GSAPP
Advanced Studio - Bernard Tschumi
Performance Node
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FLOOR 8 CATWALK
MECHANICAL & EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL & EQUIPMENT
CURIO SHOP
CAFE
COSTUME SHOP
FLOOR 6 BACKSTAGE
STAGE
PERFORMANCE GALLERY
FLOOR 3
PLAZA
A
B
C
D
E
120'-0"
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1
2
2
PARKING 3
3
TECH ROOM
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180'-0"
FLOOR 1
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4
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LIGHT LAB
CLASSROOMS
UP
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6
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7
UP
A
B
C
D
E
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Charles Vincent Thornton
Columbia GSAPP
Advanced Studio - Bernard Tschumi
Performance Node
TOP L E F T A public roof deck provides new views of Harlem, Columbia, and the park. b ot tom l e f t Elevated plaza and high-tech scaffolding support concerts outwards to the park. r ig h t The existing slope of the site is mobilized to create an outdoor ampitheater.
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Charles Vincent Thornton
Columbia GSAPP
all Skeleton model made of lasercut acrylic, 3D printed plastic, and cast plaster showing the structural system.
Advanced Studio - Bernard Tschumi
Performance Node
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Charles Vincent Thornton
Columbia GSAPP
Advanced Studio - Bernard Tschumi
Performance Node
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TOP l e f t Visibility through the facade is manipulated by lighting.
r ig h t Utilities are built into the armature for public and patrons.
B OT TOM L E F T The operative armature captures the unobstructed sunlight available in the park for passive heating of circulation spaces, and active energy generation.
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Charles Vincent Thornton
Columbia GSAPP
Advanced Studio - Bernard Tschumi
Performance Node
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left
r ig h t
The intricate scaffolding wrapper is warped by former contours of topography.
The layering of fabric, stone, glass, and bright accents are revealed as one approaches the Performance Node.