Spacelab KunsthausGraz

8/18/2019 Spacelab KunsthausGraz

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PETER COOK &

COLIN FOURNIER

P R E E D E N E S T U D Y

N

2003GRAZ, AUSTRIA


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KUNSTH US GR Z

PETER COOK

COLIN FOURNIERGRAZ, AUSTRIA, 2003

H Y B R I D I Z T I O N

S T R U C T U R L S Y S T E M S

S T R U C T U R L S K I N

The structure for the exhibition spaces is held

within the steel frame in the skin. This allows the space

to remain unobstructed by columns, giving absolute

freedom to the plan of the exhibits. The skin spans a

distance up to 60m.

Below the exhibition spaces, the freeflowing

public space is enclosed by a thin curtain wall of glass,

giving the space a feeling of transparency. This space

uses a more conventional piloti and brace beam

system, and in fact, it is the foundation for the free-formstructure above. The same rigid floor system that

resists the thrust from above, acts as a brace linking

the columns at the ground floor.


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PETER COOK


PUBLIC GATHERING SPACE

(1) ART EXHIBITION SPACE

(2) CAMERA AUSTRIA INSTITUTE

(3) THIENFELD PALACE

CITY VIEWING PLATFORM

ART EXHIBITION SPACE

C I T Y V I E W I N G P L AT F O R M

T H I E N F E L D

P A L A C E

4TH FLOOR

4

5


P R O G R M D I V I S I O N

The KUNSTHAUS houses a variety of programs.

What makes the museum space unique is the lack of a

permanent collection. The galleries [1] were designed

to house travelling exhibits, as well as serve the otherart institutions within Graz, and the rest of Austria.

In addition to art exhibition, the KUNSTHAUS

hosts CAMERA AUSTRIA [2], an independant research

program exploring photography as an art medium and

historical tool. The research facilities are located above

the public floor at grade and within the bottom floors of

the curved structure.

The complex also is linked to historical

architecture in the THIENFELD PALACE [3]. This is

one of Austria's first steel structures, and has been

restored as part of the museum support facilities.

The excavated levels house a parking complexwhich was constructed primarily to serve the nearby

commercial area, though the Kunsthaus staff will use

these spaces for their needs as well.

Two other traditional buildings [4,5] are part of

the complex, and at this time do not serve a direct

museum function, yet once refurbished, will house

cafes and other public entertainment spaces.


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C A M E

R A A U

S T R I A

F A C I L

I T I E S

KUNSTH US GR Z

PETER COOK


ART EXHIBITION SPACE

C I T Y V I E W I N G P L AT F O R M

E X H I B I T I O N

S U P P O R T

4TH FLOOR

ENTRY

ENTRY

T RA N S C

A LA T O R

( P I N )

PUBLIC READING AREA

SUPPORT

S U P P O R T

F U T U R E

P U

B L I C

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

T RA N S C

A LA T O R (

P I N )

1ENTRY LEVELPIN ENTERS TOP EXHIBITION SPACE


P R O G R M D I V I S I O N

THE SHARP CONTRAST OF FORM ON THE

EXTERIOR BLOCKS MELT AWAY WITH THE DESIGN

OF THE INTERIOR CIRCULATION. A TRANSPORTER- ESCALATOR CALLED THE "PIN'' GRADUALLY

MOVES VISITORS TO THE EXHIBITION HALLS

WHILE ALLOWING THEM TO SURVEY OVER THE

VARIOUS SPACES. tHIS CONTINUES THROUGH

THE LOWER EXHIBITION SPACE, GIVING A UNIQUE

OVERVIEW TO THE PRESENTED ARTWORK.


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PETER COOK



E N C L O S U R E S Y S T E M

Although the KUNSTHAUS complex connects with more traditional structures,

it is the striking form of the structural skin that creates the most excitement.

The design incorporates a triangular brace system, and hexagonal ports which

grow to self structured nozzles. These tilted extrusions act as light ports

bringing northern light into the exhibition halls. They also serve to highlight

the history of Graz, by their orientation to traditional heritage monuments, such

as the Clock Tower atop the Schlossberg.

In addition to the skin's structural role at the exhibition spaces, the designers

created multiple uses and multiple definitions for the "skin" beyond the

traditional role as merely the enclosure system.

This skin is a complex layering of form and systems, yet its construction is

made of typical materials, and is conventionally detailed resulting in a much

lower cost than would be assumed. The interior tensile layer forms easily to

the steel frame, while the acrylic panels are attached with a conventional pin

system.

The skin does have an added media function. 930 circular fluorescent bulbsare placed behind the acrylic panels, forming what could be described a very

large very low resolution grayscale bitmap matrix. Each bulb can be controlled

independently, for intensity and duration. The skin can then be programmed

for signage, or for a programmed media exhibit.


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PETER COOK



U R B N C O N N E C T I O N

The KUNSTHAUS is part of a greater community effort to revitalize the citycenter, by promotion of arts and cultural events. The complex is wellcoordinated to act as the bridge into the district. The public spaces createa flow into the surrounding spaces, drawing in berger and visitor alike.

The models to theleft illustrate theconnectivity thestructure wouldhave with the

surroundingbuildings, asthese structuresare incorporatedinto the program. The measuredfacades of thetraditional Austrianbuildings act as

music bars uponwhich the newform is composed. The city of Grazcelebrates a richhistory of the AvantGard, andwelcomed the newform as a

compliment to theirTyroleanconservatism. The form seemsstrangly like anartificial heartbeing inserted intothe city, to give it are-birth, and new

life. The City hastaken charge ofthis project incoordination with alarge scalerevitalization effort.It could then besaid that theconnection to an

artificial heart isaccurate indeed.

Graz City revitalization corridor


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PETER COOKCOLIN FOURNIERGRAZ, AUSTRIA, 2003


P R O J E C T I N F O R M T I O N

Formal name of Project:Kunsthaus GrazLocation:Graz, Austria

Gross square footage:141,007 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:$50 Million

Owner:City of Graz

Architect: ARGE KunsthausMariahilferstrasse 18010 Graz, Austria

ARGE Kunsthaus is the joint veture between:

– spacelab cook-fournier GmbH –Architektur Consult –Bollinger+Grohmann

Bibliography:

Architectural Record Jan 2004: KUNSTHAUS GRAZ. p 146article by Liane LeFaivre

ARCspace Foundation website: www.arcspace.comarticle: Spacelab Cook-Fourier, Kunsthaus Graz

Graz, Austria City website: www.graz03.atarticle by Peter Pakesch, Artistic Director of the RegionalMuseum, Joanneum: Kunsthaus Graz, A Friendly Alien.

photo: M Nicol

photo: Paul Raftney

photo: Paul Ott


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PETER COOK


PUBLIC READING AREA

GROUND FLOOR

CITY OBSERVATION "NEEDLE"FOURTH LEVEL

UPPER EXHIBITION SPACE

FOURTH LEVEL

A

B

CD

A B C

D

LOWER EXHIBITION SPACE

THIRD LEVEL

H Y R I D I Z T I O N

S P T I L O R G N I Z T I O N


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3THIRD LEVEL 4FOURTH LEVEL

C A I ADMINIST R AT IO N

SERVICE

CORE

C I R C U L A T I O N T O

E X H I B I T S

C A I -

CIRCU-

LATION

F R O M B E L O W

SERVICE

CORE

CIRCU-

LATION

F R O M B E L O W

EXHIBITION

SPACE EXHIBITION

SPACE

" N E E D L E " O B S E R V A T I O N

D E C K

P R O G R M G G R E G T I O N

KUNSTH US GR Z

PETER COOK



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PETER COOK



1ENTRY LEVEL 2SECOND LEVEL

SHOPGALLERY

READING

CAFE

ENTRY

ENTRY

SUPPORT /

SERVICE CORE

C I R C U L A T I O N T O E X H I B

I T S

C A I- MEDIA

EXHIBITS

C A I -

CIRCU-

LATION

PUBLIC

SUPPORT /

SERVICE CORE

C A I -

CIRCU-

LATION

CHILDREN'S

EXHIBITS

TRAVELING EXHIBITS

C A I- MEDIA

EXHIBITS

ADMINIST R AT IO N

T O T H I R D L

E V E L

P R O G R M G G R E G T I O N

Documents

Spacelab KunsthausGraz