Layered aluminum strips evoke dandelion seeds for this museum façade in Bangkok
2022.02.14
A MUSEUM DEDICATED TO ALUMINUM
HAS design and research wanted to bring softness and lightness to a busy road in the outskirts of bangkok with the design of the ‘museum of modern aluminum’. shortened to ‘MoMA’, the 400 sqm museum aims to revive the significance of aluminum in thailand with a characteristic elevational treatment.
The architects tell designboom that ‘thailand was once the largest aluminum manufacturer in southeast asia at the end of the 20th century’. however, following the 1997 asian financial crisis, the bangkok streetscape became filled with advertising signs and ground floor extensions in order to survive.
DANDELIONS & FIREFLIES
One street from the new museum site on ratchaphruek road leads to ko kret, an island that used to be populated by fireflies. this natural retreat provided the main design inspiration for the HAS team, who wanted MoMA to serve not only as a public space but also as a getaway for busy urban dwellers.
The museum is therefore designed as an extension of the natural landscape of ko kret island. during the day, MoMA is a dandelion, with its overhanging elements swaying in the wind, bringing softness and lightness to the busy ratchaphruek road; at night, MoMA transforms into fireflies, adding a sense of nature and peacefulness to the highly commercialized street.
the façade is clad with tens of thousands of aluminum strips, each with a slightly different color and texture, just like the seeds of a dandelion. the aluminum strips, combined with LED lighting, extend from the front elevation to the two side façades, and then straight into the interior via a ‘tunnel’ space on the west side. this tunnel guides visitors inside while filtering out the noise from the street.
The aluminum strips continue past the tunnel to the landscape and to the lighting and furniture, creating a totally unified architecture. on the façade, the layered metal also functions as a shading element to keep the interiors cool.
Inside, the exhibition space can meet a variety of display, reception, and activity needs. on the top floor, an enclosed landscape is designed as a floating island with seasonal plants, creating an urban ecological site for fireflies to flourish.
-
▪ Source: designboom | https://www.designboom.com/architecture/has-design-and-research-aluminum-facade-bangkok-02-10-2022/
▪ Author: Lynne Myers
▪ Image Credit: ©W Workspace / ©HAS design and research
