Assignment1: Contemporary Fabrications Techniques

Architecture Precedent

Project:  Kimbell Art Museum

Architect:  Louis Kahn

Building Year:  1972

Location:  Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Category:  Museum & Exhibit

 

Key Concept

Kimbell Art Museum, definitely a masterpiece in modern architecture. Louis Kahn used concrete made a clear definition for modern architecture. The art gallery is located in a tree-lined park. The concaved entrance in the west face to the park. Next to the building is a chessboard-like grove. It is like the greenery of the park is embedded in the art gallery. The environment of the park and the art gallery is integrated and interconnected. The art museum seems to be born there.

The distinct form of the Kimbell Museum's cycloid barrel vaults is rimmed with narrow plexiglass skylights, providing room for natural light to penetrate into the spaces. To diffuse this light, pierced-aluminum reflectors shaped like wings hang below, illuminating the smooth surfaces of the concrete vault while providing elegant and enchanting light conditions for the works of art. For the shape of the roof, during the semicircle, ellipse, sector and cycloid, Kahn selected the last one. Below are two long side beams, two short side arches, and then fall on four columns. Using the concrete technology to cast the shell extremely thin (the thinnest part is 102mm) with minimal shear force at the lightest weight

Selected Design Element

I selected three different part of the same project to make models.

Whole Building

This part is meant to build the whole museum. For showing an overall view and space composition. Restrict by the scale of the model, it can’t be used the real construction materials, but by using the fabrication techniques, it should show the different material and paving. Also, for respect the original design, the structure system will be built like the real building as much as possible, which means the non-supporting wall in the real building, will not be support anything in the model as well.

Topography Model

Beside the building itself, the landscape surrounds it also been well designed by Louis Kahn. The building and the landscape meant to be together, for deliver the idea from architect.

Therefore, the topography model should be built in the same scale with the building model, and should be allowed the building model fit perfectly into the landscape.

The landscape includes terrain, stairs, trees and water. Like the building model, this model will be showing the material as well.

Section Cut Through Model

In this model, it will be showing a section cut view and it could be very detailed. From the material to the structures, it will be restored 100% as much a s possible. Most importantly, it will be showing how the light comes inside the building through its very unique design and what it looks like. If put this model under the skylight, it should have the same beautiful diffusing lights on its concrete roof like the original one.

How is the Key Concept Reflected in the Design Studio?

Whole Building

The Kimbell Art Museum is filled with gray-white sandstone plates in a concrete frame to create a similar color depth and texture. At the same time, the concrete frame structure is clearly displayed, and the overall appearance is simple and intimate.

Topography Model

In order to alleviate the fatigue of the visitors to a certain extent, Kahn designed to plant a small group of tea holly in the front yard, concentrated in the middle of two reflecting pools that constantly splashed water from the sides. Shortly after the opening of the museum, he explained that these facilities are necessary because “the art gallery needs a garden. You walk in the garden, you can come in or not. This huge garden tells you that you can come in or You can go out. It's completely free." But the plants in the front yard also represent an orderly natural world, a calculated environmental effect.

Section Cut Through Model

In this model, by using the concrete and metal to showing the diffusing light. Meanwhile, in kahn’s opinion, the structure is the creator of light. Once the connection of the building is fully demonstrated and looks reasonable, the space becomes a building. By distinguishing between detachment, blanking and alignment, Kahn’s architectural nodes are generously displayed, and the architectural details are full of narrative language.

Geometrical Description of the Shape

Whole Building

This museum has 2 floors. The upper floor of the building was composed by 16 cycloid barrel vaults, each vault is 30.6 meters long, 6 meters wide and 6 meters high, formed a repeating arched roof. The vault is broken at the centre, leaving a narrow slit and a gap leaving potentially between the side wall and roof to allow natural light to enter. Between the vaults are the flat roofs. The building is punctuated by three courtyards, allowing for more light, air flow and relationships between interior and exterior spaces.

The lower floor is like a big concrete base, which connected the terrain differences. The concaved entrance in the west face to the park.

Topography Model

However, the gravel paved under the woods is different from the surrounding park lawn. It seems to be oriented, suggesting that it has entered the entrance plaza of the museum, and the pedestrians in the park can reach the entrance of the museum. On the east side of the museum is the service management entrance and parking lot, and on the north side is the sunken parking lot for visitors. After parking, the audience can board the outdoor staircase to the entrance porch. On the south side is a sunken garden where people can rest, play concerts and use as an outdoor show. The usual audience is also the entrance to the entrance square.

Section Cut Through Model

Proposed Scale, Material, Technique.

Whole Building

Scale: 1:200

Material: Timber, Acrylic

Technique: Laser Cut, Wood workshop

Topography Model

Scale: 1:200

Material: Timber, Acrylic, fake trees, cars & people in scale

Technique: Laser Cut, Wood workshop, varnish & painting

Section Cut Through Model

Scale: 1:50

Material: Timber, Aluminium (or other metal, need to be tested), Concrete

Technique: Wood workshop, 3D printing, concrete pouring, metal workshop

Time Commitment, Budget

Whole Building

Hrs: 5 hrs model building

5 hrs document setup

8 hrs assembling and workshop process

Total 18 hrs

Budget: $80

Topography Model

Hrs: 4 hrs model building

6 hrs document setup

3 hrs prepare materials

8 hrs assembling and workshop process

4 hrs varnish and painting

Total 25 hrs

Budget: $120

Section Cut Through Model

Hrs: 3 hrs model building

    2 hrs document setup

2 hrs 3D print model (not include waiting time)

6 hrs Concrete pouring

6 hrs wood workshop

8 hrs metal workshop

Total 27 hrs

Budget: $160

Reference

 ArchDaily. (2019). AD Classics: Kimbell Art Museum / Louis Kahn. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/123761/ad-classics-kimbell-art-museum-louis-kahn [Accessed 30 Jun. 2019].

Bellinelli, L. and Kahn, L. (1999). Louis I. Kahn, the construction of the Kimbell Art Museum. Milan: Skira editore.

YouTube. (2019). Kimbell Art Museum. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKzI7CgnYXs [Accessed 30 Jun. 2019].