Image Credit : Peter Bennetts
Project Overview
A digital technologies exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum is an immersive space. Inspired by the exhibition content, the design is a continuous line through out the space, expressing the trajectory through the history and infinite potential of digital manufacturing. The design itself is an example of those possibilities.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
LAVA Laboratory for Visionary Architecture
Team
Architects:
LAVA Laboratory for Visionary Architecture
Partners:
Builder - IALD
Lighting Designer - Light Practice
Project Brief
The client brief was for a digital technologies exhibition design in 770sqm space featuring works by more than 60 artists, designers and architects from around the world in the historic Switch House gallery of the Powerhouse Museum in inner Sydney. The exhibition design should incorporate and reflect the ideas and technologies that the exhibition describes.
The concept is an immersive space, a trajectory through the history of digital manufacturing. The design was inspired by the exhibition content: The experience is a continuous line through out the space expressing the infinite possibilities generated through the emerging of digital data collection and digital manufacture. This line runs along three strips of various heights on which the artworks are displayed at ideal levels to be viewed.
The material strategy was to create a cool, white interior space lined with concealed strip lighting, creating a sense that the structures are floating. The seamless, clean white finish allows the objects to capture the full attention of the viewer whilst also creating the illusion of infinite depths in the sweeps of the curves.
Project Innovation/Need
Immersive sweeping curves set the scene for an exploration of digital data, a space that gives room for story telling and objects. A continuous undulating wall cut at varying heights forms displays with a cool white palette bringing the subject matter to the forefront. Concealed strip lighting creates the illusion that the structure is floating while adding depth to the sweeping curves.
Design Challenge
The design elicits visitor responses ranging from quiet contemplation to interaction, experimentation and play. The museum believes the design ‘enhances the exhibition without overshadowing the objects on display. It draws visitors around the space, providing both areas to contemplate the works and beautiful sightlines to other parts.’
The client believes that LAVA’s design ‘clearly delivers on transcending visitor expectations of what an exhibition on 3D printing comprises’. Already over 50,000 people have visited the exhibition.
Designers, students, and the general public have praised the design. Ron Labaco, curator at the Museum of Arts and Design New York, observed how it beautifully and elegantly supports the exhibition’s messages and objectives.
Sustainability
As a firm at the forefront in the use of digital technologies across the globe, LAVA was well placed to execute the design and is part of the story itself. LAVA’s use of digital workflow and digital manufacturing technologies resulted in a sustainable outcome.
LAVA demonstrated that merging technology with patterns derived from nature and using these patterns as the basis for building structural systems is efficient and beautiful.
Innovative, integrated design and construction methods facilitated the eight-week program from concept to completion.
Sustainable features include recycled materials, low energy lights, and locally manufactured items that were all sourced from within one hour from Sydney and all within the existing building footprint.
The curves were created with an internal timber structure and bendable plywood which are robust, recyclable and renewable. Horizontal surfaces were CNC cut in batches and then assembled on site, proving to be cost and time effective.
LED lights and a smooth seamless white finish allow the objects to capture the full attention of the viewers.
Pop-Ups, Display, Exhibit & Set Design
This award celebrates innovative and creative design for a temporary building or interior, exhibition, pop up site, installation, fixture or interactive element. Consideration given to materials, finishes, signage and experience.
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