Interminable Glimpse

CRITIC

Danielle Willems

TEAM

Joao Freitas, Taylor Beck, Weiwei Gao

PROJECT STATEMENT

We were inspired by the short story from Jorge Borges called Library of Babel, in which the author describes his Library as a sphere whose circumference is inaccessible. Using this as an analogy to our mixing chamber, we placed our artifacts in the core of our pavilion so they could be experienced from many different angles between the tectonic layers, but never displayed too clearly to the users from proximity.

The distinct contrast between the smooth and organic inner form and the rhythm of the sharp vertical layers that compose the outer skin defines the mass and void relationship of the volume. Determined by the circulation of the users to its location at the courtyard, the curves of the inner space delineates the scale of the body in the perception of the space, while the flow of patterns and movement on the outer forms challenges the interpretation of a flat outer surface. Moreover, the rhythm and shifts of the vertical layers also create interstitial views that reveal interminable glimpses of the artifacts. Finally, the variation of the vertical layers, by interlacing techniques, spacing alternation, and material and texture qualities reveals the hierarchy of different viewing points.

The structural embossed polycarbonate that defines the inner space highlights the edges of the thin vertical layers. These same vertical layers provide different viewing perceptions of the artifacts, sometimes revealing them from different angles, but also distorting them due to the material qualities, varying from black chameleon chrome, glass-coated red and yellow, and translucent glass. The open volume below the patterned ceiling rather than unify the artifacts from a unique viewpoint, it unifies the users at that central space.