Breaking the Barrier

Author:

Rabold, Adelynn Jeanne

Area of Honors:

Architecture

Degree:

Bachelor of Architecture

Document Type:

Thesis

Thesis Supervisors:

Loukas N Kalisperis, Thesis Supervisor
Christine Lee Gorby, Thesis Honors Advisor

Keywords:

Architecture
Museum
Gallery
Design
Artist Residence

Abstract:

Art is kept hidden away in the great museums and private collections of the world, locked away in these institutional buildings subject to the hours and fees of larger organizations. These spaces are not inclusive to all people and are often removed from the everyday routine of most. How can architecture create spaces that celebrate art, while removing the traditional barriers and increasing community accessibility to art objects? The traditional experience of seeing art is going to a museum, a type of cultural institution, buying a ticket, and walking through a series of white boxes with art on the walls or placed in the center of the room. Within the museum, one finds stanchions, security guards, glass dividers, and cameras, all physical barriers keeping you at a “safe” distance from the art. Beyond the physical barriers of a museum, there also come socio-economic and educational barriers as well. Not everyone is comfortable or finds enjoyment in going to a museum. Why is art not able to be integrated into our everyday life, beyond plastering posters on subways stops and buses? What needs to happen in order to make this happen? I am seeking to reverse the typical museum approach of bringing people to the art and the museum as a destination. Instead, I aim to bring art to the destinations, where people already live, work, and relax. I feel that, while citywide public art programs have been successful in many ways, they fail to unite their programs to create a cohesive approach that leaves a lasting impression on people. My thesis introduces an architectural framework that can support a public arts network. Through the use of modules and a terminal space, different numbers of modules can be sent out to a site, dependent on the size and parameters of the specific site. Through the application of different modules and configurations, a variety of program types can be achieved. Areas of display, studio spaces, educational spaces, and cafe spaces all can find a space within this new network.