Final Idea

Throughout the weeks I have been fascinated with the idea of bringing the street into the gallery space. To do this successfully the ground level has no walls on the exterior facade which immediately opens the site up to the street and exposes it making it appear like an extension of the street or a mall for human congregation and meeting. To create a semi enclosed area a two story curtain wall extends to a glass covered roof on the street facade just like in the roves of the British museum and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The glass roof questions what is really internal or external space as the sun and sky are absorbed into the open-air design.

To follow the idea of street art which is characteristic of Newtown and compliment the artworks exhibited in the gallery, people re encouraged to use the gallery as an open art space. The open area encourages people to meet and express themselves in this area and add to the art in the gallery and furthermore the street. This encourages people to express how they feel and what they see and further develop the artistic char cater of Newtown. This idea was inspired by the very famous and controversial street artist Banksy.

To separate the street art from the art being exhibited pods have been designed which sit within the structure. The pods are metaphors for the organs of the body that bring the building to life. The first pod is two stories high and is the main displaying area. the rooms have no windows and rely on artificial light to protect the paintings. The first pod has an entry on the ground level and just like in the pod in the British museum there are stairs which embrace the either side and ascend to the second level where one can enter the pod from the rear. In the centre of the design there are two circles which create an open courtyard in the middle of the building where sculptures are exhibited. This questions what is internal and what is external space as the external space appears enclosed and the internal space appears exposed and open to the public. The final pod joined to the gallery space consumes the external courtyard and is three levels high, there is a spiral staircase which encircles the pod emphasising the organic design. The reason why the pods are so important is that they further reiterate the idea of art as the pods themselves embody art and appear to be like sculptures within the building. The circulation is like a journey and reminiscent of the actions one takes around sculptures. The stairs encircle, ascend and descend around the pods as if one is examining a sculptural piece of art.

The last courtyard joins the busy street on king street to the peaceful and organic park behind the building. This creates an organic and fluid unity of the busy city to the peace of nature. This is important to the design as it creates a journey within the building. the final pod which has a kiosk on the bottom level has been purposefully placed here so that artists and gallery goers can reflect on their journey reminisce their thoughts and feelings. This is important as it acts as the culmination of the journey and its important with any journey that there is a proper beginning and end. The upper level consists of the bedroom of the gallery owner.