The Hood Museum
2006/2007 - CAD/Presentation/Theory
The Hood Museum at Dartmouth College is currently planning for a major renovation. In 2006 advanced architecture students were given the opportunity to explore possible extrapolations for the given space while considering the established parameters and functions of the museum. Through study of the physical structure, the human innards and day to day life that the museum holds, and the possible impact on the surrounding community I developed a modified floorplan, exterior, and flow model. After working for a time with Brian Kennedy, the director of the Hood, I was invited to present my ideas to a room of investors and board members. In this meeting I emphasized my concern that art is changing faster than museums, and the necessity that we reconsideration of how art is shown. The Hood museum is choked with walls to hang paintings and two dimensional art, largely disrupting flow. I proposed that non structural walls either be knocked down, or replaced with movable walls so as to better accommodate the gray areas of experimental art. I also proposed to blow up an entire wall, extend a wing and enclose this space with textured glass to diffuse light. I believe it was at this point that I saw Mr. Hood chuckle, and every investor in the room fidget as they hid their wallets.
