
Emotional Gradient
Competition Entry for Museum of Emotions
Gallery of Stillness

Gallery of Stillness

Gallery of Movement

Gallery of Movement

Architecture is an opportunity to preserve culture and serve communities. This inspired the feelings of movement and stillness because the site once housed a dance hall, event space, and theatre.
Street View Perspective
The challenge of this project was not only building specific atmospheres but also meshing old with new ones. To redefine the space I meshed the feeling of stillness with the existing structure due to the belief that history is something set in stone or a moment in time. Then I merged the dance hall of movement with the gallery of stillness in a form that overwhelms the still gallery to communicate the desire of moving forward or taking the next step.

Physical and Digital Model Collage

Floor Plan
Going about preserving the original structure, I used the original columns to define the new building and walls. Upon site visit I collected material textures and plants which informed renovation decisions.

Dining Plan

Interior Perspective

North Section

West Section
Furthermore, I chose a large reflective glass for the movement gallery to create an interesting lighting effect, but also as a way to reflect and emphasize surrounding structures.

Conceptual Sketch
From talking with locals, I learned that the site used to host weekly swing dancing events. Due to the building shut down these events were moved to a different city, and students no longer have access to these celebrations. By designing a new dance hall, it will not only meet the interests of residents but also build a stronger, bonded, and more supportive community.
