Chan Krieger & Associates
Submission 0109
Inside, Out and Under
What if from some distance your initial awareness of the BCA was of a translucent, hovering plane; an airborne marquee for the environs of the BCA at its front doors? What if you arrived in a plaza 'pock dotted' with light mysteriously passing through a perforated ceiling above you? You are under the protection of a canopy, a time-honored device to establish a threshold between inside and outside. You are still outside, but decidedly in a very special realm. About to enter and enjoy the world of the BCA but already under its spell.
This inside-out space serves as a public entry for the BCA. Paving creates a filter that leads towards the entry points to the BCA; bench placement coincides with the folds in the canopy above. Four-foot diameter openings in the canopy cast ephemeral shadow patterns on the ground in an ever-changing environment. Paving flanks south of the canopy, leading visitors northward towards a hidden courtyard within the BCA. From the courtyard, the BCA is the backdrop to a stage set for more intimate outdoor performances.
The canopy is constructed of a series of structural steel honeycombs joined to form a continuous and faceted plane. This structure is clad in semi-translucent composite glass, varying the types of shadows cast. Select honeycombs are solid plates; each becomes the top plate to supporting columns which taper to 12" as they reach the ground. Glimpses of the canopy will be visible from major axes, such as Clarendon and Tremont, as well as from intimate neighborhood streets, such as Montgomery.
