Project 3: Newtown & Site 1

NEWTOWN:

Newtown is a cultural hub in the inner-west. A fusion of art, fashion, food, shopping, the pompus, the poor, gays, toughies, cuties, the desperate, and a world of other paradoxical traits.
There is heavy foot and car traffic at almost all hours. The back streets and side alleys are full of street art, which appears to be fostered by the local community, rather than discouraged.
The current street-scape of Newtown does not have any contemporary buildings, and neither does it have any building that really stand out. The most prominent building near site one, is a large church across the road.

SITE PLANS:

Project 3: The Client

The client is an electronic arts patron. In his mid to late thirties, and is single, and is very private. He has been in and about the Australian New Media art scene since his early 20's, and has made many connections along the way, in Sydney, Australia, and Internationally. Over the last decade, he has compiled an impressive collection of historic and contemporary video and sound art, and is now looking for somewhere to share it with the public, and also trade in some of his less precious works. Along side this ambition, he also hope to contribute a new space of open collaboration, which will foster the local new media scene and also up and coming individual artists. He wishes for a flexible, none imposing space, which will allow for all kinds of New media art. He desires a gallery that allows for performances, and will also have a space for artists in residence, who can live in their studio of they please, however he desire this space to be disconnected from his own private residence.

Project 3: Example art works

The gallery will incorporate a range of new media artworks. Including video installtions, light installations, sound art, performance art, and re-interpretations of traditional mediums.



“Constellation”, 2006 by Chu Yun



TV PULP, by Cam Foster 2006, Carriageworks. Abstract interactive video installation.



YELLOW MONOCHROME«, 2008 by A kills B



Video Landscape (flowerpot)”, 1974 by Ernst Caramelle



KASALPUSTERLENGO«, 2006 by Marcello Maloberti


Johanna-Zyklus«, 2000 by M+M



Between You and I”, 2006 by Anthony McCall. Vertical solid light installation, two video projectors, two haze machines. Video (”You and I, Horizontal III”, 2007)

Project 3: Materiality: pixels, old bricks, and flexible walls

pixels are the inspiration for the facade.





The simple, yet shimmering facade of the New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York.


There are three layers on the King Street facade, firstly a massive concrete wall, then a selection of multiple lights, of slightly varying colours and brightness, then a facade of of hatched metal. Through this metal the lights punch through, creating a pixel-like effect, that shimmers as one passes by.




Along the length of the western interior wall and out into the back courtyard, the building is attached directly to the wall of the neibouring building (the Dendy) and the bricks are left exposed. I want to envoke the gritty history of the area, and also tap into the backyard party
The interior galleries are a layering of giprock, and mdf for easy attachement of works, with an air gap behind for running electricals etc. These walls would be painted whatever colour needed for each specific work, probably usually black.
The entry/alleyway would be constructed of concrete, and painted matt black, to reduce light bouncing around in the space.

Project 3: Conceptual sketches: The Laneway

I wanted to create something of a laneway, that would draw the people in off the street. Sydney does not have a significant laneway culture like that of Melbourne, and I wanted to tap into that vibrant scene (or at least reference it). The laneway is the entrance of the building, but the public can move deep into the site before actually reaching the main entrance. Inside the alley is a large scale projection, and also a significant sound system. From the street, the passer-by will see a glow and here the sound echoing around in the alley, hopefully drawing them in.

Project 3: Plan, Section, Poche, Vignette

I am including both poche and simple plan drawings here. The Poches giving a sense of how the space will feel, and how it will be used, especially with regards to how natural and artificial light will behave in each space. And the simple plans giving a sense of spatial arrangement and functionality.

PLANS POCHE: LEVEL ONE & GROUND LEVEL

SECTIONS POCHE:

MAIN INTERIOR GALLERY POCHE:PLAN & SECTION

The main gallery space, with high ceilings can accommodate a range of activites, and installations. The courtyard and this space area located very close to the kitchen area, and public toilets so they are also optimal spaces for exhibition openings.

PLANS LAYOUT: GROUND LEVEL & LEVEL ONE

SECTIONS LAYOUT:

VIGNETTES:





The rear courtyard can be used as a night theatre for performances and gigs. Chairs can be brought out from the storage/delivery area side door which leads onto the courtyard.