A METAPHORICAL SIGN IN SPACE A PROJECT DISTINGUISHED IN A COMPETITION FOR THE MODERN ART MUSEUM IN WARSAW (Metaforyczny znak w przestrzeni wyrózniony w konkursie projekt gmachu Muzeum Sztuki Nowoczesnej w Warszawie)

• Authors: Martens Bartlomiej
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

Contemporary art relates to and tries to describe the most diverse aspects of the present day by exploring assorted strata of human activity. This freedom and versatility in selecting ideas and the instruments of their expression lay at the basis of the conception for a building of the Modern Art Museum in Warsaw, which would combine various tendencies and fascinations. On the other hand, an essential challenge for designing the formal and philosophical aspects of such an inimitable and unique building involves its purely museum programme, associated with the technology of presenting works of art and service facilities accompanying the prime function. A thus comprehended dualism of utility and artistic expression inclined towards a quest for a unifying element, a veritable metaphorical sign in space which, in its capacity as a sui generis abstract, could contain and concentrate purely functional limitations stemming from the competition programme, without, at the same time, depriving the building of its 'mystery'. Such an approach led to the conception of ribs, especially considering that Biblical life originated with a rib, and art is the fullest description of life across the ages. The geometric cubicoid of the building facing the Palace of Culture and Science concentrated primarily museum functions. Its characteristic features include the cubic and minimalist rigour of the showrooms with a possibility of arbitrarily dividing them into modules. An opposite of this ascetic arrangement is the 'fluid' organic form facing Marszałkowska Street, which is to fulfil service functions and offer space to let. The spatial keystone of the functional division is the inner hall - the very heart of the premise, a meeting place intended for integration events, happenings and other town-creating undertakings. The museum roof is designed as open to the public for walks, the enjoyment of leisure among plants, and multi-media projections. The composition rhythm involving reinforced concrete ribs marking all the neuralgic accents within the building, the glass elevation in a 'Spider' construction supported by rust-free rotulas affixed to a glass sub-construction in the form of iron blades, the cooper tin patinated to a dark brown with irregular perforations, the granite and marble finishing of the floor and walls, the steel connectors and steel-reinforced concrete ribbons for climbers, and, finally, the green roof of interchangeably applied glass and aluminium, as well as the granite passages and the ecological rhythm of the spreading plants - all these factors mould the architecture of the building. The graphic design of the Museum is tangible in each of its fragments; it also comprises a path leading to an integration of life and art, intent on bringing the visitor closer to various aspects of architecture combined with pure and unhampered creativity.

Keywords

EN

MODERN ART MUSEUM IN WARSAW

Discipline

• ARTS_&_ARCHITECTURE: ARTS & ARCHITECTURE

• Publisher: Krajowy Ośrodek Badań i Dokumentacji Zabytków
• Journal: Muzealnictwo
• Year: 2007
• Issue: 48
• Pages: 147-157
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Martens Bartlomiej

• Bartlomiej Martens, no data

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

10PLAAAA088111