Modelwork
Kunsthal Rotterdam
TIME: Spring 2020, 2nd semester
TYPE: Case study
THEME: Understanding the building and its surroundings
In relation to a study trip, I had to analyse a Dutch architecture project and create a set of drawings, a section model in 1:100 that explores how the building blends in with its surroundings and a scaleless model based on the themes of the project.
The given case is Kunsthal Rotterdam, design by OMA in 1992. One of the special things about the project is that there are two intersections, one that runs east/west and one for pedestrians that slopes from the southern end to the north and therefor functions as a gateway between a busy highway on an elevated dike and the lower-level museums park. Another special thing is the flow in the building and how the inside is a spiraling circuit that is connected through a lot of ramps both below and above ground, leading from the ground floor all the way up to a roof terrasse.
The models are built at home doing Covid-19, so it is handmade with only knife and ruler. It is built from plans, sections, and photos found on the internet, and it was therefore difficult to understand how the building is composed.
The section model shows the pedestrian ramp that slopes from south to north, and how the building is connected to the surrounding terrain. It also tries to show the complexity of the building with the ramps connection the different levels.
The scaleless model tries to collect the themes from the model in a abstract way. The main themes are, ramps, movement, and directionlessness in form of different materials, just like the original Kunsthal in Rotterdam.
