ELI AND EDYTHE BROAD ART

MUSEUM

EAST LANSING, UNITED STATES

ABOUT THE ARCHITECT

Zaha Hadid, known for her radial deconstructive designs. She explores new aspects of design through
technology and materials. She always explores and thoroughly researches her designs before creating.
She creates dynamic forms of long curved shapes which is seen in most of her designs. She explores
between the relationships of patterns and the constructions of her designs.

INTRODUCTION
The sharp-edged structure is a result of detailed analysis of the topographic and circulatory
characteristics of the surrounding area. Existing paths and visual connections continue inside the
museum, fulfilling a new function and firmly embedding the building into the landscape. The varied
directional folds and pleats of this weather protection layer reflect the circulatory changes in direction
and orientation of the surrounding landscape, they give the building a constantly changing appearance
arousing curiosity yet never really revealing its content.

PRILIMINARY ANALYSIS
PROJECT TYPE : Contemporary art museum, cultural hub

PROJECT LOCATION : 547 East Circle Drive, East Lansing, Michigan

CONSTRUCTION PERIOD : Construction of the museum began on March 16, 2010, at the
ground breaking ceremony attended by Eli Broad and Zaha Hadid. Originally scheduled to open April
21,2012, the official dedication was delayed until November.

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE : Futuristic

Stainless-steel facades folded accordion style

DESIGN CONCEPT : The structure is a result of the detailed analysis of the circulatory paths and
characteristics of the surroundings, generating two dimensional planes from these lines of circulation
and visual connections, the formal composition of the museum is achieved by folding these planes in
three-dimensional space to define an interior landscape which brings together and negotiates the
different pathways on which people move through and around the site. Through this complexity, we
can interpret different leads and connections, different perspectives and relationships.

PLANNING : The museum structure is divided into different private, public and semi-public zones
within its different floors for dividing the usage and access of the building by the curators and the
visitors.
SECONDARY ANALYSIS
AESTHETICS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTEXT : It is a strange object sitting on the edge of
the campus but one with a magnetic quality. The radially abstract object brings an element of wonder
and makes the building something to be explored and discovered. The exterior pleats of steel give the
museum a constantly changing appearance arousing curiosity but never really revealing its content.

CHARACTER : “Cultural engagement is paramount” said Zaha Hadid, thus the plan of the building
was generated by the directions of the surrounding pathways and sight lines, and the architects
hoped this will help the building to integrate with its surroundings. Its outer skin echoes these
different directions and orientations giving the building an ever changing appearance that arouses
curiosity. This open character underlines the museum’s function as the cultural hub for the
community.

CIRCULATION : We enter from the west into a central hall or from the east through a courtyard into
the lobby, which leads into a welcoming double height exhibition center and the education wing
behind large tiled structural window walls. Off the lobby, a floating cantilevered and cranked through
the volume. it is flanked by two load bearing walls of silky-smooth concrete canted at 15 and 20
degrees, respectively. This skewing sets the visitor off killer but we regain equilibrium as we enter the
galleries though neither orthogonal nor completely straight-walled they are in relation to the public
areas.

EXPRESSION : In a structure like this where the body the body is engaged physically with its
surroundings, we have this amazing synergy between building, art, body and perception.

MATERIALS : Stainless steel and glass panels in the exterior and wooden flooring and wall tiles in
the interiors

USES : The museum apart from the exhibition gallery also includes an educational facility, a works
on paper study center, administration offices, a café and a shop as well as a pedestrian plaza and a
sculpture garden.
ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE ANALYSIS

Elements of architecture such as point and line are apparent in this structure designed by architect
Zaha Hadid, the whole structure is sharp-edged and has pleats made of stainless steel which gives it a
sense of continuous motion and by using lines to inform the design, the museum is truly embedded
within its unique context of Michigan State University, maintaining the strongest relationship with its
surroundings and in the interior the stairs have sharp edges and has a clean and dynamic look. The
interiors do not have many aspects as the sole focus is meant to be on the art and artifacts displayed in
the museum.

Color of the exterior is solitary due to the use of stainless steel throughout and stainless steel was
chosen to help the magnificent structure stand out of the other red brick buildings in the surrounding.
In the interiors the wooden flooring which is a subtle beige and the white walls and black stair accents
focuses attention on the art the museum exhibits but still maintains a dynamic class.
FORM ANALYSIS
There is no apparent usage of any organic geometric shapes, the structural elevation is formed out of
the analysis obtained from the study of the topography and the paths of circulation in the surroundings
hence the structure is formed out of a variety of polygonal 3D shapes.

SPATIAL CONFIGURATION ANALYSIS

ARCHITECTURE PRINCIPLE ANALYSIS

The main principle of architecture used in this design is rhythm which is portrayed by the exterior
lines which show a constant form of movement and unity which is achieved by the connection of the
buildings exterior to the landscape and dominance which is achieved by the use of stainless steel
which helps the building standout from the surrounding structures made of red-bricks and makes a
statement of its own.
I started out trying to create buildings that would sparkle like isolated jewels; now I want them to
connect to form a new kind of landscape, to flow together with contemporary cities and the lives of
their peoples.

- - Zaha Hadid

RACHEL RAJESH (RA1911201020023