HELIX museum
Berlin Natural Science Museum - Competition 2014
Competition - Berlin Natural Science Museum
THE CONCEPT - History, as Hegel said, moves upward in a spiral of negations. Thus the concept of the museum accommodates the idea of develo ping characte r of history, the evolution implemented in ascending architecture of spiral. The solid external volume, rising and twisting, embodies the idea of negations by wrapping weightless internal space which exists as if beyond time. The museum spiral begins its way from the pool representing the essence of water as life blood or the source and mother of all living creatures.
SUSTAINABILITY
The issues of sustainability are realized in the project by several solutions allowing for:
- environment-friendly building materials of the local production;
- using recycled industrial materials as an alternative to virgin materials (foundry sand as base material for the building site, rubberized sidewalks from used tires, recycled aggregate concretes, manufactured stone as building facing material and etc.);
- water pool and solar panels as elements of HVAC system;
- rain water collection system as the source additional water supply;
- green roofs, which reduces storm runoff and provide insulation;
-light wells on the roof that allow daylight to penetrate to premises and consequently use less artificial illumination
On the whole the concept of the museum represents the quintessence of philosophical perception of history, architectural feasibility and the latest achievements of integrating natural renewable resources to the life of people.
The issues of sustainability are realized in the project by several solutions allowing for:
- environment-friendly building materials of the local production;
- using recycled industrial materials as an alternative to virgin materials (foundry sand as base material for the building site, rubberized sidewalks from used tires, recycled aggregate concretes, manufactured stone as building facing material and etc.);
- water pool and solar panels as elements of HVAC system;
- rain water collection system as the source additional water supply;
- green roofs, which reduces storm runoff and provide insulation;
-light wells on the roof that allow daylight to penetrate to premises and consequently use less artificial illumination
On the whole the concept of the museum represents the quintessence of philosophical perception of history, architectural feasibility and the latest achievements of integrating natural renewable resources to the life of people.
MASTERPLAN
First of all the masterplan of the museum is influenced by the functions of nearby public areas and complexes (transportation, pedestrian flows, zoo). According to the Building Regulation Code the museum is situated on the site regarding required setbacks from neighboring buildings and real estate properties. The project site is 25 700 sq.m and 30% plus of those or approximately 8 000 sq.m is dedicated to the green areas. The print of the building amounts to 5 850 sq.m. Green roofs of app. 5 000 sq.m will add significantly to the amount emphasizing the status of Berlin as one of the greenest capital city of the world. The surrounding development influences the shape of the building to achieve single ensemble. In front of south side of the building there are places for disembarking passengers from both personal and public vehicles. The entrance group for the museum visitors is arranged to be visible from south-east side what refers to the main pedestrian flows from the zoo area and transportation nodal points (metro, bus, train stops). Public area in front of the museum entrance allows to control and disperse pedestrian flows. Vice-versa the entrance for the museum personnel is located on the east side of the building making it enough remote and concealed from vision.
First of all the masterplan of the museum is influenced by the functions of nearby public areas and complexes (transportation, pedestrian flows, zoo). According to the Building Regulation Code the museum is situated on the site regarding required setbacks from neighboring buildings and real estate properties. The project site is 25 700 sq.m and 30% plus of those or approximately 8 000 sq.m is dedicated to the green areas. The print of the building amounts to 5 850 sq.m. Green roofs of app. 5 000 sq.m will add significantly to the amount emphasizing the status of Berlin as one of the greenest capital city of the world. The surrounding development influences the shape of the building to achieve single ensemble. In front of south side of the building there are places for disembarking passengers from both personal and public vehicles. The entrance group for the museum visitors is arranged to be visible from south-east side what refers to the main pedestrian flows from the zoo area and transportation nodal points (metro, bus, train stops). Public area in front of the museum entrance allows to control and disperse pedestrian flows. Vice-versa the entrance for the museum personnel is located on the east side of the building making it enough remote and concealed from vision.
INTERIOR SPACE PLANNING
The museum area of 23 700 sq.m will be accommodated on 6 levels including different functional zones with the central atrium where the biggest exhibits such as skeletons of dinosaurs, mammoth and other huge creatures will find its place. The functional zones are allocated around the atrium in ascending spiral of levels which proceeds one to another through the systems of ramps also allowing for the needs of handicapped people. At the same time all basic connections between floors as evacuation-stair and elevator shafts are distributed (arranged) along the whole perimeter of the atrium. The parking for app. 200 units and the zone of the exhibits loading and storage are provided on the basement level. There are two exits outside and two entrances to the museum hall from the parking. The ground floor incorporates lobby, with box office, information office, administration, book shop, cafe, offices and a large auditorium. The logic of functional zoning is determined by the optimum of its purpose and natural lighting requirements. Thus premises with maximum daylight penetration such as educational (2-4 floors) and research (4-6 floors) areas concentrate on the east and south sides of the museum. On the contrary the exhibition halls are placed from 2 to 6 floors on the north and east side of the museum. To impart communicative and somewhat playful features to the museum interior the techniques of phenomenology are used. The visitors will be able to distinguish the functional meaning of each premise by corresponding color of ceilings and its interpretation in the Museum Plan more quickly and surely. Moreover, the ceilings of all functional zones will be visible from ground floor of the atrium.
The museum area of 23 700 sq.m will be accommodated on 6 levels including different functional zones with the central atrium where the biggest exhibits such as skeletons of dinosaurs, mammoth and other huge creatures will find its place. The functional zones are allocated around the atrium in ascending spiral of levels which proceeds one to another through the systems of ramps also allowing for the needs of handicapped people. At the same time all basic connections between floors as evacuation-stair and elevator shafts are distributed (arranged) along the whole perimeter of the atrium. The parking for app. 200 units and the zone of the exhibits loading and storage are provided on the basement level. There are two exits outside and two entrances to the museum hall from the parking. The ground floor incorporates lobby, with box office, information office, administration, book shop, cafe, offices and a large auditorium. The logic of functional zoning is determined by the optimum of its purpose and natural lighting requirements. Thus premises with maximum daylight penetration such as educational (2-4 floors) and research (4-6 floors) areas concentrate on the east and south sides of the museum. On the contrary the exhibition halls are placed from 2 to 6 floors on the north and east side of the museum. To impart communicative and somewhat playful features to the museum interior the techniques of phenomenology are used. The visitors will be able to distinguish the functional meaning of each premise by corresponding color of ceilings and its interpretation in the Museum Plan more quickly and surely. Moreover, the ceilings of all functional zones will be visible from ground floor of the atrium.
