Municipal Art Society Headquarters Bastiment Civil d'Usatge Mixt by Yang Zhao

Municipal Art Society Headquarters Bastiment Civil d'Usatge Mixt by Yang Zhao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award d'Argent in Arquitectura Competition Category.

ArgentArquitectura· 2023

Municipal Art Society Headquarters Bastiment Civil d'Usatge Mixt

by Yang Zhao

Client: Uyang Architecture

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Arquitectura Category

16,521

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #147708

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Municipal Art Society Headquarters Bastiment Civil d'Usatge Mixt

La Societat Municipala d'Art es una organizacion sens fin lucrativ de Nòva York qu'encoratja la planificacion reflexiva e lo design urban. L'arquitecte a concebut un bastiment ont un cambiament gradual de la privacitat es clarament establit: del cafè public semisoterrani fins al burèu del quatren pis. Entre tots los programas, lo forum civic es lo mai important, que es completament expausat al vesinatge e concebut amb un gèst vertadierament acuelhent geometricament e espacialament per encoratjar tots los ciutadans a interagir e participar per la granda causa de preservar la rica istòria e cultura de la ciutat.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

Municipal Art Society Headquarters Bastiment Civil d'Usatge Mixt a ganhat la distincion A' Design Award d'Argent, una reconeissença extraordinàriament prestigiosa acordada a de designs d'ort de gamma, esplendids e impressionants. Los ganhaires de l'Argent son d'òbras terriblament brilhantas e extrèmament creativas que illustran l'experiéncia, lo talent e la finessa excepcionals de lors designers. S'espèra que Municipal Art Society Headquarters Bastiment Civil d'Usatge Mixt siá una òbra meravilhosa e de referéncia, notablament professionala e prigondament innovanta. Aqueste design ganhaire de la distincion A' Design Award d'Argent es una invencion fòrça notabla e admirada, que fa un ben e fa avançar las frontièras de l'art, de la sciéncia, del design e de la tecnologia. Municipal Art Society Headquarters Bastiment Civil d'Usatge Mixt es una creacion immensament envejada que desrevelha de desirs, aduch de sentiments positius e fa néisser l'estonament e l'esmaiment.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Municipal Art Society is a nonprofit, membership-based organization in New York City that encourages thoughtful planning and urban design across the city to preserve history, culture, and neighborhoods. Through various strategies, all the different programs were able to be arranged from the most public café at the half underground to the most private office on the fourth floor, creating several public spaces that seamlessly connect to the site and are fully open to the citizens of New York City.
Dimensions & Packaging: Site Area: 2000 m2, Building Area: 1300 m2, Building Floor: 4, Building Height: 22m
Tags: public building, culture, history, civic, social event, municipal
Production Technology: By using parametric software to simulate the thermal insulation materials, window areas and shading area, thermal comfort was optimized with the design of envelope through the entire year. In terms of shading, the sizes and density of the hollows on metal panels are tested, and the diameter of 1 ¼” is finalized to be the best, which can ensure proper natural lighting in the room for the maximum number of hours and also provide a perfect interactive projection surface.
Design Challenge: The site is at the junction of three districts with a neighborhood environment of long and complex history. By making spaces with a really welcoming gesture and high transparency, the building is calling for all citizens to participate from outdoors to indoors. And privacy gets higher for the staff of MAS when they access the building by using the atrium stairs to go all the way up to the office. In a word, the challenge is to symphonize all participants to interact, learn and enjoy, meanwhile representing the local culture and history, and that is what makes this design interesting.
Research: The design is not just for an office building of MAS, but it is for creating a public civic space for all citizens to join and participate. Through design, we need to consider comprehensively all aspects, including history, culture, spaces, structure, privacy, transparency, thermal, lighting, aesthetics, landscape, etc. Only by making it serve all aspects well, can this design genuinely represent MAS and its fundamental purpose of serving the citizens.
Inspiration: The site is at the junction of Meatpacking, West Village and Chelsea. These three districts have gone through World War II, the post-industrial era, the hippie culture, and the urban renewal in the 21st century. It can be said that there are ups and downs for more than a century. The local history and culture truly inspired my design to form its own unique style to conform to the urban, historic, industrial and artistic atmosphere of its context, in aspects of programs and spaces.
Project Duration: Designed in 2020, NYC
Operation Flow: From outdoor to indoor, from underground to rooftop, the MAS Headquarters is full of various public activities. Especially the public forum on the 2nd floor, which draws people from all directions to participate in social events. When citizens come to this site, they can spend a whole day exercising their physical and mental strength, and fully enjoy the benefits that the city offers. This is not only good urban planning and architectural design, but also the fundamental aim of Municipal Art Society.
Image Credits: Yang Zhao