1) The Huntington Library - The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science (San Marino, CA)
- This is one of my all time favorite exhibition spaces because of the immersive experience it provided. The glass windows let in natural light, and the circular dome as well as the circular pathways made me forget I was in a typical rectangular building. This space could just have easily been pots of plants arranged in rows in which case I might have been bored out of my mind, but the clever mimicry of nature really enhanced my interest in what was being exhibited.
- Exhibits that immerse and don’t just display, whether it be through visual, auditory elements or chances for interaction
2) SM Entertainment Coex Artium
- SM Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment company that manages some of today’s most popular Kpop artists. Their Coex Artium (now closed) was dubbed a “theme park in the city” for Kpop fans. It had a mechandise shop, replica recording studios, cafes with branded food, an in-house theatre, and a ton of weird but innovative exhibits. Not only was the space a brilliant way to promote their artists, the aesthetics of the building also contributed to the company’s image. The giant LED facade gave the impression of SM Entertainment being a modern, forward-minded entertainment company.
- This had me thinking about the visitor center for the project. What innovative and inspiring aspects of the sustainability center would I want visitors to take away with them, and how would I achieve that?