The Museum of Herald Square
A new type of capital.
A new type of capital.
As Broadway intersected the grid, it created interesting moments in the plan, one being the heart of the shopping district - Herald Square. Here consumerism takes the focus away from relationships and towards materialism. This need creates individualized lives rather than communicative ones. But the spectacle of society can be countered through the lens of interaction as seen by the automobile ban distributed along Broadway. This space becomes an area which generates social capital rather than perpetuate consumerism.
The presence of the museum along with its street program begins to relive the constant pressures of consumerism and bring about an awareness of community. This intervention, though subtle direction and gathering points facilitate people to actively participate in this cultural institution so that it becomes central to community life. This institution becomes grounds for dialogue, begins to help users find their voices and becomes more community based.
The museum utilizes the maximum available area from Herald to Greely Square, integrating itself into street level. By creating these stages in such influential areas, visitors are allowed a place to escape and congregate. these grassy areas funnel and direct the focus towards the cantilevering beacon of a museum. The experience of the escalator builds anticipation, greeting the visitor with an explosion of space. The galleries give the viewers an experience of a similar effect, bringing interaction closer together to be greeted with a large open top floor.
The presence of the museum along with its street program begins to relive the constant pressures of consumerism and bring about an awareness of community. This intervention, though subtle direction and gathering points facilitate people to actively participate in this cultural institution so that it becomes central to community life. This institution becomes grounds for dialogue, begins to help users find their voices and becomes more community based.
The museum utilizes the maximum available area from Herald to Greely Square, integrating itself into street level. By creating these stages in such influential areas, visitors are allowed a place to escape and congregate. these grassy areas funnel and direct the focus towards the cantilevering beacon of a museum. The experience of the escalator builds anticipation, greeting the visitor with an explosion of space. The galleries give the viewers an experience of a similar effect, bringing interaction closer together to be greeted with a large open top floor.
*Design nominated for the Erlanger Award 2010
