The Johannesburg Art Gallery has been a controversial topic for many art and history lovers in Johannesburg since the early 2010s but is why? I would say it’s due to neglect, due to no one wanting to use the space, artworks getting ruined, no tourism, classism and many other reasons.
This project is the reinventing of a once highly regarded gallery into a modern era while allowing the space to house all 10000 artworks and accommodating for future works. After two renovations, the building still suffered from the same conditions of little to no lighting, water dripping through the wall and potential ruin of famous artworks accumulated by the gallery. My aim was to fix that while giving the gallery a passive income to allow the gallery to sustain itself to keep art free to the public.
The history of Johannesburg, the idea of the Johannesburg Art Gallery spreading throughout Johannesburg to connect those far and wide with more of the artworks and bringing in a tone of balance between the outside and inside of the gallery.
History of Johannesburg
Using the fact that Johannesburg used to be a mining hub as an idea to burrow underground to experience history for yourself.
Parasitic Architecture
The underground building (mine) acts as a parasite that spreads from the Johannesburg Art Gallery to the surrounding context.
Community
While on site I noticed different types of communities that the site brings together (Different generations, different cultures and backgrounds) therefore seeing the park as an extension of the Johannesburg Art Gallery would remove those communities. Which I did not want to do.
Ruins (Models) – Fragmented Architecture
The Johannesburg Art Gallery is falling apart (much like a lot of the buildings that surround it) so above ground I decided to have multiple buildings imitating that idea of ruin, turning the word into a sculptural blend of interior and exterior spaces.
Integration of exterior and interior
Landscape is a very important part of architecture often thought about last, and I would love to deconstruct that narrative by literally allowing nature to grow through the ground of both the old parts of the museums as well as also the new.
Reflection
The aim throughout my project is to connect the gallery to its existing community while bringing in those from far and wide. Breathing a new sense of life into the gallery while using the original building as a sculptural monument.
The new extension to the museum uses multiple ideas to formulate one huge building meant to house 20000 artworks (current + future).
The new extension is meant to suit the current generation while leaving the space for the Johannesburg Art Gallery to grow outwards of its boundaries and allow people from around Johannesburg CBD to experience the space. Allowing the people of this rich city to fall in love with art whether they consider themselves an artist or not.
Placing the Johannesburg Art Gallery on a pedestal, to be marvelled at for the future generations while giving the art a new place to be exhibited. Bringing back forgotten media as a way of giving the building new life. Having spaces that are inclusive of all. Places to earn the Johannesburg Art Gallery a stable income while maintaining the current viewing experience. (To allow the viewing and exhibition of art to be free.)
Keeping the heritage alive but giving the building a modern reworking for culture and art.
