Transformation

Since my concept has evolved, I have been having trouble clearly articulating it. Therefore, I have spent some time over the last few days trying to provide some clarity. I chose transformation as my concept because the space I designed is a craft gallery. The craft pieces in the gallery are handcrafted by regional artists (wood, glass, textile & sculpture) using process that remove, displace, add or join material to transform objects into beautiful and dynamic pieces or artwork created by the human hand. To implement my concept, my strategy is to create the displays using the same processes I have mentioned herein. On the left side of the gallery, the sisplays are boxy, rigid and solid looking. The boxes are mounted on large plywood panels. Beams stretch from the plywood panels, like fingers, across the ceiling to manipulated into the dynamic displays on the opposite side of the gallery. I chose materials for the gallery that show a connection to the former purpose of the mill and the surrounding region, as well as the products the store will carry. The shelving on the periphery of the gallery and the articulated ceiling are made of wood. This is because NC is known for its abundance of trees and forests. I kept the restored wood flooring from the mill, so the wood displays and ceiling are a natural companion to the wood floor and the joists on the ceiling. In addition, I left the surface of the two columnal supports as raw wood.

As a connection to the major architectural gesture (the bridge) of The Shops at Buffalo Bridge, as wells as some of the products in the gallery, I chose to use 3-Form and stainless steel for the shelving and other displays in the center of the gallery.