THE URBAN COLLAGE is a proposal for a theoretical cultural arts center located in the River North District of Chicago. I titled this project the "Urban Collage" because I chose to study how society, culture, design, and heritage can come together like a collage to form the “urban fabric” of a city, which is a theoretical construct that dictates how we design.
The proposal is located in the River North Gallery District, which is known for promoting the arts. The cultural arts center is equipped with studio spaces for painting, drawing, animation, and ceramics, as well as a rooftop terrace and garden, black-box theater, administrative space, and an extensive, naturally-lit gallery. Ideally, the building would be open to the public and encourage the surrounding community to be more involved in the creative arts.
The models above depict the overarching idea for the proposal of “The Urban Collage” cultural arts center with my own artwork laser-etched on different planes of the building.
first floor plan
second floor plan
third floor plan
fourth floor plan
north-south elevation
north-south section
east-west section
The models above were presented as color and materiality studies. I knew that creation and exploration would be happening within the cultural arts center, so I wanted to bring those aspects to the outside for the general public to enjoy.
The diagram above is the initial building design sited in the River North Arts District in Chicago, Illinois. This axonometric drawing experiments with color, materiality, and how adding color to specific planes affects space and perception. This drawing was made in connection with the models above.
concept diagram
hand-drawn rendering of the proposal's exterior
The sketches above show some of the process behind the design.
theoretical structural model of the proposal
theoretical structural model of the proposal
Below are some travel sketch entries/collages in my sketchbook that were done on a studio field trip to Chicago prior to beginning this project. Hand drawing is one of my passions and is a part of design I truly enjoy -- I think the ability to draw well by hand is a skill that is increasingly important to emphasize as the digital age continues to progress.
