From the Museum of One to the Museum of Many

A trend that emerged noticeably in the 1600s, the Cabinet of Curiosities was a room rather than a piece of furniture. A collectors paradise, this single room space went by many different names, such as Cabinet of Wonder, Kunstkammer (art-room), and Wunderkammer (room of wonder). Having started as a room for exhibiting personal collectibles or curiosities of a single-type item that one may have acquired through travel and adventure, these rooms later became a must-have in the residences of many important political figures, leaders and men of knowledge. This was an interesting phenomenon, which may account for how the room began to symbolize power, affluence, knowledge and authority. Later on, these rooms would contain many types of items, mostly miniature replicas of natural or historical artifacts, crammed within every inch of limited space, where one may be compelled to hunt out or search for a desired curiosity, lending a richer connotation to the room of wonders. This room, especially in a rulers residence, began to denote a smaller, microscopic world inside the palace, a symbolic manifestation of control and power. This may account for why some historians describe it as a microcosm or a theater of the world. On another note, apart from the symbolic, cultural and historical significance of the Cabinet of Curiosities, one cannot help but notice that it is a precursor to the modern concept of a museum. The Wunderkammers were actually smaller, early versions of what we now call a museum.

Architecture, Curatorship and Display

Architecturally, a well-designed museum is a treat to experience in terms of the dialogue between man, object, space and environment. An indispensable concept behind such spaces is the idea of curatorship. The interior architecture of the museum serves a specific purpose; it houses object displays and therefore its true job is to accentuate them. The scale, volume, materiality and lighting are all accomplices that aid the display of objects stored within. The architecture should not overpower or mute them. However, in terms of exteriority, many public museums stand out like a landmark; a citys urban identity.

Design Brief/Programme
In this project, you will be redesigning the Natural History Museum located in Islamabad, following the theme of the Paleolithic era only. Programmatic requirements are: Minimum 10,000 and maximum 15,000 square feet Permanent display area Temporary display area A minimum of 30 object displays (display areas should constitute minimum 60% of the total covered area) A briefing area for guided tours Parking for 20 cars Storage area Outdoor spaces A caf for 40 people Souvenir shop Administrative offices Restrooms/toilets

Design considerations
Display and curatorship for an educational museum. The museum display should also be able to tell the story of the objects time. The museum as a dialogue of space: man-object relationship, object-object relationship, object-space relationship Functional considerations: circulation loops, access and utilities Contextual dialogue: building-building relationship, building-nature relationship, environment, pre-existing architectural language Programmatic relationships on both individual and holistic level

Presentation Requirements
01. Design Brief and Context Study Concept design Programme brief Research Site analysis and contextual considerations Concept sketches and drawings Presentations should be paper-based with graphically articulated information. Multi-media accompaniments are welcome. 02. Mid-review Design brief and context study (research, analysis and concept design) On-scale, drafted plans (masterplan, floor plans), at least 2 sections and 2 elevations Perspective sketches (and exploded views if necessary) Maquette 03. Final review Design brief and context study (research, analysis and concept design) Process drawings Final architectural drawings (master plan, floor plans, roof plan, sections, elevations, perspectives) Finished model Process drawings may be on tracing paper, but final presentations should be drafted and rendered on drafting or drawing sheets. Master plans may be presented on a smaller scale than the floor plans.

Schedule
Tuesday, December 13th 2011: Project introduction and site visit Tuesday, December 20th 2011: Review 01: Design Brief and theory assignment submission Wednesday, December 28th 2011: Mid-review Friday January 6th 2011: Internal review Wednesday January 11th 2011: Submission day January 12th and 13th 2011: Final review