Cuttlefish Kaleidoscope

CRITIC

Danielle Willems

TEAM

Alec Naktin, Lixue Cheng, Michael Willhoit, Oluwatosin Omojola

PROJECT STATEMENT

A pavilion that acts as a receptacle for multiple precious artifacts cannot take on a singular character. In housing the artifacts, it takes on a multiplicity of material and tectonic properties. In this way the mixing chamber acts not only as a place to store the relics but also an intermediary between the viewer and the viewed; by transmitting the material properties of the objects it facilitates the viewer’s engagement with them.

The main structure of the mixing chamber is perceived as a pair of translucent membranes. The interior membrane houses the artifacts and the exterior membrane, supported by an interlaced grid, provides opportunities for viewer engagement. Viewing tubes span the distance between the two membranes and orient to the closest artifact to give a myriad of unique views.

The shifting and changing nature of the materials that compose the mixing chamber are integral to the way that visitors to the museum engage with its collection. A membrane of translucent chromatophores situated over each viewing tube expand and contract, revealing and obstructing each artifact in turn.

CLOSE-UP RENDERS

RESEARCH

ARTIFACTS

ITERATIONS

PLANS

ELEVATIONS

EXPLODED AXON

DETAILS

AXON

SECTION ANIMATION

COURTYARD RENDERS

INTERIOR RENDER