Chihuly Garden and Glass Seattle Exploration

Myself at the entry to the Chihuly Exhibit 

Chihuly Garden and glass is a new art experience that showcases the most significant works of internationally acclaimed artist and glass work pioneer Dale Chihuly. This unique exhibit it located in downtown Seattle in the Seattle Center right at the foot of the Space Needle.
The exhibit is nearly 45,000 square feet was designed by Chihuly himself. "What I wanted to do there was take the very best from all the museum shows I've done over the years and add a couple of new parts to it," he told Seattle Times, "I'm so pleased with the results. It was beyond my expectations, really." This successful structure features Chihuly's work both in the art gallery setting and leads into a glasshouse that visually transitions the viewer to the garden outside.

Track Lighting in every room of the gallery

Under-shelf Lighting

Pedestals

The glass is either suspended from the ceiling by using sturdy steel wiring or put on pedestals and some just slightly separated from the floor by the different displays put on stages. His art is also displayed upon shelving but it is all dependent on what best displays his work. The glass sculptures are illuminated by extensive track lighting that is above each room in the exhibit as well as under shelving lighting to properly showcase the pieces below. The colors of all of the interior walls are a mid-hue charcoal grey which neutralizes the space and makes all of the interior display rooms fluid and transparent. The people experiencing this display of immaculate art can see the art of the next room thru the doorway of the part of the exhibit the viewer drawing them to the next showcase of artwork moving them naturally through the space. This is a very successful and extensive gallery of art work but it is very                                                                                                successful in communicating what the artist                                                                                              wanted the showcase to be.

Dramatic Lighting with amplified
 by Charcoal walls rich crimson flooring 

Staging of sculptural works

Experiencing the space

Glass House

Sculpture Garden 

 

Vision Ability Workshop

To see through the eyes of who you are designing for is a powerful experience. A simulation was done to understand the importance of universal design throughout commercial spaces. Whether it be a coat of paint to a contrast in color from the wall to the floor, every little bit helps. Contrast in tones and hues is the greatest help to someone who is visually impaired; as well as a well lit area. With well lit areas come considerations of glare and other pains that people with normal 20/20 vision experience. To put oneself in the mind set that what one sees is intensified by someone who is impaired will help put the design into perspective.

Concept Development

Inspiration Photo

Conceptual Design | Depot

The inspiration photo gave form to the idea Generator. The photo features the bricks found outside the Pufferbelly depot brought inspiration to this design. It displays the rich history of the site giving it a rustic appeal and through this telling the story of the structure. 

Final Parti

Textile

The inspiration Photo gave form to the final parti design through the communicated different range in line weights through the overlapping and organic shapes. These elements provide multiple dimensions to the design by adding depth and making a direct connection to the nature of the project. The original reasoning is the history of the site in the natural, historic Pullman setting. Through a process of mirroring this original parti vertically and horizontally this created the pattern that composes the pattern design of my project. The model originally was aimed to mimic the raw and rustic qualities of the bricks texture. A secondary intention was to reflect the fluidity of the transformation of the structure that is to be designed next and simultaneously correspond with the connectivity of the phases of the structure throughout time, in the past, present and future.

Final Model

Through this design process I have learned more about the importance of a well-executed idea being intricately incorporated through a design. After having exposure to the design process previously both abstractly and aesthetically and in turn I have adopted a new appreciation of the value of the design process. 

Study Models