Project Description from the Architects:

Can the experience of art be enhanced through architecture?

White walls + Isolated Rooms = Good museum? Our design of the Serlauchius Museum extension seeks to deviate from that mantra by developing an architecture that directly facilitates human interaction with art. It is our firm belief that the experience of art can be enhanced through innovative architecture and new spatial experiences.The design of the Maison Promino seeks to achieve two main goals: to create an inspiring piece of architecture that will enhance the image of Serlachius Art Musuem globally and to provide a truly unique museum experience by connecting visitors with the art like never before.

MANSION GÖSTA + EXTENSION = NEW MUSEUM ENTITY AND IDENTITY

The design of the new extension is a 4,700 m2 extension composed of 4 floors and a basement. It is strategically positioned adjacent to the Serlachius Museum. This location allows for the architecture to emphasize the character of the existing institution while preserving much of the surrounding nature. A simple connecting entrance is formed in the space between the existing and the new building allowing for easy access between the two buildings. The new building will be the center of focus when arriving to the new Museum Courtyard while the old Mansion still maintains its position as a dominant in the landscape.

AN UNINTERUPTED EXPERIENCE OF ART AND CULTURE

Retaining the concept of the art museum as a seamless space for visitors, the design contains as minimal obstructions as possible. This is achieved by connecting the various different functions of the museum through the use of an innovative structural system. Instead of utilizing a typical grid of columns, the structure is moved into the façade of the building in order to achieve an atmosphere of total continuity. All the main public functions form continuous uninterrupted spaces on each floor while the supportive functions (kitchen, toilets, storage, etc.) have been pushed between the slabs in order to offer an experience of architecture that is totally devoted to experiencing art and culture.

SELF-COMPOSED DIALOGUE BETWEEN ART AND INDIVIDUAL

To experience art in a completely new way the exhibition spaces have been designed to create a new kind of dialogue between the art and the visitor. The sloped floor areas that surround the flat exhibition areas invite visitors to stop and lay down to experience the art with time and commitment. Instead of a rigid spatial sequence that forces visitors to rush from a gallery to another. The overall spatial concept encourages people to establish their own pace and choreography for their own unique museum experience.

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE THROUGH DOUBLE LAYERED FAÇADE SYSTEM

The Museum’s advanced façade-slab system is designed to make the building as energy efficient as possible.  The double-layered façade system creates a buffer zone around the building enabling us to react to the changes in external climatic conditions by controlling cool and warm airflows from the different spaces through the buffer zone and vice-versa.

The load bearing concrete façade systems is designed in a way that despite of its rich and varied outlook it can be produced out of pre-manufactured modular elements that lower the cost vis-à-vis en site cast concrete systems. The sizes and positioning of the openings of the building skin are optimized according to their relation to direct sunlight in order to take maximum advantage of natural heating and light. The slabs of the building are pre-tensioned concrete slabs that are connected to the façade creating a one coherent structural system. The façade elements are bent according to the tensions of the slabs in order to create one optimized structural system that is environmentally sound without compromising the architectural qualities of the building.

Our intention in the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Istanbul Disaster Prevention and Education Centre Competition is to organize a joyful, integral space where man reconciles with nature. In addition to animate forms we have manipulated the movement in order to induce the production of new urban opportunities.

Perrspective View

• Architects: Design Initiatives
• Project: Istanbul Disaster Prevention and Education Centre
• Location: Istanbul, Turkey
• Type: culture
• Date: September, 2011
• Status: competition
• Client: ThyssenKrupp Elevator
• Area: 9,450 sq. m.
• Credits: Design Initiatives: Vlado Valkof – architect; Malgorzata Blasik, Minko Marinov, Anne Valkof, – designers; Peter Kochevski, Viki Raytcheva – rendering
• Software used: Maya with V-Ray rendering, Photoshop, AutoCAD

Perrspective View

Our proposal links together the two main areas of Prevention-Education and After-effect response-rescue (the shelter). In the Prevention-Education area the visitors first shall watch, observe, scrutinize the phenomena in the Planetarium, 4D Video room and the Exhibition area grouped around the Lobby and then personally participate, experience, test the phenomena in the Simulation wing of the building.

Perrspective View

Our study of pedestrian traffic density shows main pedestrian approach from south (along the Ayamama Creek embankment, Istanbul World Trade Centre, CNR Expo Centre, and WoW Hotel), east (Yenibosna Metro Stationand the future mosque plaza) and north (Kültür University and Airport Shopping Mall). The new building steps back from the planned mosque and provides open gathering plaza – park around the mosque.

Perrspective View

The building is covered with a green roof. The two long but low-rise man-made flowing hills of simulations and parking wings crawl up and merge above the lobby, opening sight views towards the Sea of Marmara. Two escalators bring visitors from the roofscape down to the lobby and ticketing.

Perrspective View

The car access is from the less busy northern street and leads to the parking garage wing (2.5m clear height) which is setback from that street and attached to the lobby. Along the street and in front of the parking garage is located the buses drop-off / pick-up area adequate for 3-4 school and tourist buses. The simulation sections (3m clear height) form another wing on ground level attached to the lobby. Between parking garage and simulation sections there is an inner court yard – park – plaza connected with the lobby. The entry – lobby – planetarium – 4D video room – conference room – library (they all need higher ceilings) are in the central volume (8m clear height) directly accessible from ground level and from all other wings. The administration wing (3m clear height) is the only one on 2nd floor with natural light and controlled access only for the staff.  The administration wing cantilevers above / bends over the entry plaza. It is between in and out space which plays the role of a shelter in times of disaster: folded landscape furniture of the picnic plaza (benches, tables, and planters) has a hybrid, multiple functions and turns into a shelter furniture (beds and tables).

Photomontage

The exterior cladding material of oxidized copper is inspired by the name and history of the site’s home district of Bakırköy (Copper Village). Traditional cobblestone “kaldirim” for pavement and grass/seating areas in between are designed at the plazas.

Interior View

Perrspective View

Hybrid Furniture

Top View

Ground Floor Plan