Iron Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2024
Field of Uncertainty Museum
by Xuechen Chen
- A' Design Award 2024 Iron Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2024
- CLIENT: Xuechen Chen
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 13,242
- Verification code 484CEB80CC · Verify this award
About Field of Uncertainty Museum
The Museum of the Uncertainty, at La Brea Tar Pits in LA, blends excavation, discovery, and preservation in a captivating tribute to the site's rich history. The design seamlessly integrates existing tar, serving as a dual-purpose display and active excavation site. This fusion of modern and prehistoric elements visually narrates the site's history, enticing visitors to explore hidden enigmas. With a dynamic, immersive experience, the project fosters conversations and encourages exploration, making it a compelling addition to La Brea Tar Pits.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Museum of Uncertainty at La Brea Tar Pits celebrates the site's history, blending modern architecture with prehistoric elements. It offers an immersive experience, with the tar showcasing fossils and serving as an active excavation site. The project aims to engage visitors, sparking curiosity and conversations while honoring the site's rich history.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Unbuilt, 522,720 sq. feet
- Tags
- Museum, Architecture, Contemporary Architecture, Conceptual Architecture
- Production Technology
- Concrete, Steel, Wood Panel
- Design Challenge
- Concrete Cantilever Structure
- Project Duration
- La Brea Tar pit, Los Angeles
- Operation Flow
- Comprising three distinct structures, the project offers visitors a multifaceted experience. Commencing at Wilshire Boulevard, guests embark on a journey that simulates submersion beneath the tar before arriving at the museum's central gathering area. Within the building, they encounter a fascinating exhibition featuring fossils from both storage and the hallway. The research building interconnects various excavation sites, creating a labyrinthine circulation, where visitors witness the excavation process on the ground level. In the institution building, visitors can attend lectures while gazing across the expansive excavation sites.
- Research
- The thrill of discovery is sparked by the uncertainty within the excavation process. As we navigate this ambiguity, design quest is to decipher and unveil the narratives concealed within, allowing designer to reinterpret and share these captivating stories with future generations. The excitement of uncovering the Tar Pit's history is encapsulated in our lab research, which gradually unveils the tales behind each bone, shedding light on the Tar Pit's ancient character. This project aims to engage visitors in a journey of exploration and enlightenment, promising to preserve and retell the magnificent stories concealed in the past of the La Brea Tar Pits.
- Inspiration
- The Museum of uncertainty within excavation triggers the excitement of discovery, while searching through these uncertainties, we need to read and uncover the stories behind them so we can discover and re-tell these majestic stories in the future. The excitement to find out the history of the Tar Pit is captured by lab research that slowly discovers the story behind each bone and inform us the nature of the Tar Pit in the past.
- Image Credits
- Xuechen Chen
- Patents
- Xuechen Chen
Colors of Field of Uncertainty Museum
Grand Interview about Field of Uncertainty Museum
Integrating active excavation sites was a deliberate choice to merge the work of preserving artifacts with the process of discovery. The design allows visitors to see ongoing excavations alongside preserved elements. By placing excavation areas within the research building, the museum becomes a place where history is both maintained and revealed in real time. This approach shows that the work of uncovering and protecting the past is part of a continuous process, making the museum a site of living research.
The sequence that simulates submersion was inspired by the tar itself and its role in preserving history. This entry experience creates a sense of being drawn into the site’s layered past. By experiencing the feeling of descending beneath the tar, visitors are set up for a closer look at the preservation and discovery processes that define the La Brea Tar Pits. This journey helps to frame the historical context and encourages a deeper engagement with the site's story.
The concrete cantilevers required careful planning to balance structural integrity with the desired visual effect. Detailed simulations were conducted to ensure proper load distribution and safety. We used advanced reinforcement techniques and modular design to allow the cantilevers to extend while remaining stable. These elements support the museum’s idea of linking preserved history with ongoing discovery, using the structure itself to mirror that balance.
The research building’s layout is designed as a network of interconnected paths that lead visitors through active research areas. This arrangement makes it possible for the public to observe the excavation process up close. By integrating educational displays and direct views of research activities along these paths, the design creates a setting where learning and science work side by side. The circulation encourages visitors to move freely between information areas and live research spaces.
The design process started with a thorough study of the site’s history and paleontology. I aimed to use modern forms to support and highlight the evidence of the past. This was done by pairing clean, modern structures with materials and details that reference the site's natural history. Iterative design sessions helped refine the balance so that contemporary construction methods complemented the story of the La Brea Tar Pits without overwhelming it.
My work in materialist architecture emphasizes a clear look at the materials and how they function in space. For this project, I focused on breaking down traditional forms and reassembling them in a way that exposed the materials’ true nature. This method allowed the building to reflect the site’s process of discovery, where fragments of history are carefully extracted and then reinterpreted. The approach supports a practical understanding of both the construction process and the preservation of history.
The decision to display both stored fossils and hallway exhibits was driven by a desire to show the full process of paleontological work. Stored fossils highlight the careful conservation process, while hallway displays give visitors immediate access to new discoveries. This method creates a narrative that links the work behind the scenes with what is on public view. The approach encourages visitors to understand the complete cycle of excavation, preservation, and display.
The design is intended to serve as a model for future museums by integrating active research areas directly into public spaces. This setup allows visitors to see research in progress, which makes the institution a living archive rather than a static display. By creating flexible spaces that accommodate both study and public engagement, the museum can adapt as new discoveries are made. This approach supports transparency in research and provides a template for institutions that wish to combine education with live scientific work.
My approach comes from a willingness to question the standard museum model. I looked at the museum as a space for ongoing discovery rather than a fixed collection of artifacts. This perspective led me to integrate spaces where visitors can engage directly with the research process. By challenging traditional layouts and using flexible, adaptive designs, the project becomes an environment where history is not just displayed but is continuously explored and updated. This approach reflects a commitment to rethinking how museums serve both the public and the research community.
The design of the institution building supports the idea that learning is most effective when it is connected with real-world observation. By providing views of the excavation sites during lectures, the building creates a link between theoretical knowledge and practical research. This connection reinforces the idea that observing active work enhances understanding and retention of information. The design encourages a learning environment where ideas and evidence are experienced together, promoting a clearer understanding of the research process.