South African office studioMAS architects + urban designers has designed an iconic form for the multi-media art gallery in Jellicoe, South Africa. The aluminium fin facade was inspired by the nature, with its paradox of implied order and chaos. It created the sensation of shadow and light in the journey along the entry ramp.
The architecture is a sculpture, moulding itself around its contents. Its elliptical form has developed from the constraints of a narrow site and the prospect of creating a landmark.
studioMAS architects + urban designers
Circa on Jellicoe, image courtesy of studioMAS architects + urban design
Circa on Jellicoe, image courtesy of studioMAS architects + urban design
+ Project Synopsis courtesy of studioMAS architects + urban designers
Circa on Jellicoe, sketch courtesy of studioMAS architects + urban design
COMPLETING THE ART[S] EXPERIENCE – UNRAVELLING THE ARCHITECTURE OF CIRCA
Johannesburg is home to Circa on Jellicoe, a multi-media art gallery designed by South African based practice, studioMAS. Located on a busy urban intersection, it marks a prominent public intervention that challenges perceptions of “art” and “art galleries”.
The architecture is a sculpture, moulding itself around its contents. Its elliptical form has developed from the constraints of a narrow site and the prospect of creating a landmark.
Circa on Jellicoe, image courtesy of studioMAS architects + urban design
Its main feature is an aluminium fin facade that allows views into and out of the building. The inspiration for this came from nature, with its paradox of implied order and chaos.
Circa on Jellicoe, image courtesy of studioMAS architects + urban design
The experience of shadows on the ramp accentuates the sensory discovery of space and encourages views through the fins into the city. Circa comprises of three levels; the public ground floor, consists of 106m2 of craft exhibition space. Beyond this, users traverse a perimeter ramp that connects ground and first floor exhibition spaces.
This 177.76m2 double volume multi-purpose exhibition space has 7 movable display screens that can drop through the floor into the ground level below, when unused. The top floor consists of a 105m2 private lounge and deck overlooking Johannesburg’s urban forest.
Circa is built as a part of the city, its art and its people; it is a fluid point in time, that will morph and evolve as South Africa, and its art, does.
Circa on Jellicoe - Floor plans, drawing courtesy of studioMAS architects + urban design
+ Project credits / data
Project: Circa on Jellicoe
Typology: Multi-media Art Gallery
Architect: studioMAS architects + urban designers
Realization: November 2009
Address: No2. Jellicoe Avenue, Rosebank, South Africa
Photos: Tristan McLaren, John Hodgekiss & studioMAS
+ All images and drawings courtesy of studioMAS architects + urban designers
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- Floor plans
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- Sections AA
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- Sections BB + CC
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- Detailing
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- Conceptual sketch
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February 9th, 2010 @ David K.
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