Circa on Jellicoe, South African Building Project, Photos, News, Design, Property Images
Circa on Jellicoe Johannesburg
South Africa Arts Building design by studioMAS Architects
9 Feb 2010
Circa on Jellicoe Multi-media Art Gallery
Date built: 2009
studioMAS architects + urban designers
COMPLETING THE ART[S] EXPERIENCE – UNRAVELLING THE ARCHITECTURE OF CIRCA
Building on the night of the grand opening:
photo : John Hodgekiss
Project Synopsis
Johannesburg is home to Circa on Jellicoe, a multi-media art gallery designed by South African based practice, studioMAS.
Located on a busy urban intersection, it marks a prominent public intervention that challenges perceptions of “art” and “art galleries”.
view toward Circa’s east facade ; night shot of Circa with its coloured perimeter lights
photos : Tristan McLaren
The architecture is a sculpture, moulding itself around its contents. Its elliptical form has developed from the constraints of a narrow site and the prospect of creating a landmark. Its main feature is an aluminium fin facade that allows views into and out of the building.
western facade ; night shot of Circa with its changing lights
photos : Tristan McLaren
The inspiration for this came from nature, with its paradox of implied order and chaos. The experience of shadows on the ramp accentuates the sensory discovery of space and encourages views through the fins into the city.
close up shot of one of the aluminium facade fins ; detail of some of the fins
photos : studioMAS
Circa comprises of three levels; the public ground floor, consists of 106m2 of craft exhibition space. Beyond this, users traverse a perimeter ramp that connects ground and first floor exhibition spaces. This 177.76m2 double volume multi-purpose exhibition space has 7 movable display screens that can drop through the floor into the ground level below, when unused. The top floor consists of a 105m2 private lounge and deck overlooking Johannesburg’s urban forest. Circa is built as a part of the city, its art and its people; it is a fluid point in time, that will morph and evolve as South Africa, and its art, does.
Circa Concept sketch ; stairs from the first to second floor
images : studioMAS
Circa on Jellicoe – Building Information
Project: Circa on Jellicoe
Typology: Multi-media Art Gallery
Architect: studioMAS architects + urban designers
Realisation: Nov 2009
Address: No2. Jellicoe Avenue, Rosebank, South Africa
Photos: Tristan McLaren, John Hodgekiss & studioMAS
Circa on Jellicoe images / information from studioMAS architects + urban designers
The main access ramp ; The fire escape scrim – unplanted
photos : studioMAS
The square in front of Circa ; The main, first floor exhibition space
photos : John Hodgekiss
Elliptical plans from ground to second ; Detailing the fins
images : studioMAS
Circa on Jellicoe Building : further information
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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