Tracing the Shift from Exploration to Innovation
In a world that’s a couple of millennia, sometimes it feels like we’ve crossed the timeline of discovering things and moved on to modifying them. We’ve passed the time of discovering new lands, making new types of transport, and seeing things no one has ever seen.
And it is true to an extent, isn’t it? With the peak of Instagram as well as smartphones, with every moment captured by everyone, it doesn’t feel unique anymore, as there’ll be a similar picture of the same space on the internet by a couple of hundred others.
Even in architecture, we’re making taller and grander structures every day – but at the end of the day, the bare bones of the architecture stay similar to what we saw in history.
But then every once in a while, we see something more…..
Something like – The Shed
The Shed: A Paradigm Shift in Architectural Design
‘The Shed’ in Hudson Yards feels like one such turning point. It’s a prime example of problem-solving design.
This structure that looks at the real-estate issue with a different lens is quite literally dynamic. Due to the nature of architecture being inherently permanent to a degree, it is always designed to accommodate movement and circulation for its users inside it. However, in the Shed the structure in itself is dynamic. The roof structure is built on tracks that slide the canopy itself to transform the plaza space into an indoor auditorium when in need of performances with a large capacity.
Unveiling the Design: Innovations and Functionality of The Shed
Using a similar mechanism from the neighbouring abandoned railway lines in Hudson Yard of the High Line and West side Railyard. The shed kinetic system is based on gantry cranes commonly found in shipping ports and railway systems, the kinetic system comprises a sledge drive on top of the base building and bogie wheels guided along a pair of 273-foot-long (83 m) rails on Level 2 (Plaza Level). (Pintos, 2019)
The fact that its open infrastructure can be transformed into an indoor space that not only provides shade and shelter from the elements – but creates a space sustainable for performances and showcases with the acoustics and lighting design taken into consideration is no small feat.
This dynamic shell is a 120-ft tall diagrid frame clad in translucent cushions of a strong and lightweight Teflon-based polymer. Its Problem-Solving Design doesn’t end there. The building has a Silver LEED certification with its radiant heating system within the plaza. Despite the sheer mass of the two-million cubic foot interior only 30% will need to be temperature controlled. And it doesn’t end at that. Even the plaza has a radiant floor plate.
The roof membrane’s versatile design allows the space to accommodate diverse activities. This eight-level base building includes two levels of gallery spaces, a theatre, rehearsal spaces, a creative lab and a skylit performance space. The McCourt, an iconic space for large-scale performances, installations, and events, is formed when The Shed’s telescoping outer shell is deployed from over the base building and glides along rails onto the adjoining plaza. (Renfro, 2019).
Conceptualizing Inclusivity: The Social Vision Behind The Shed
Something that I find most intriguing about this space is how it’s very concept. Unlike most galleries and performance halls, this space is made for the people, not for the rich. It aims to break down the idea of ‘Art is only for the Elite’. It is a nonprofit cultural organization that commissions, develops, and presents original works of art, across all disciplines, for all audiences.
Even the gallery’s primary showcase intends to partner with its neighbours and low-income residents throughout the city. Additionally, the institution will offer reduced-price tickets for every show which will be scattered around the theatre to provide all opportunities for all.
These ideologies are reflected in the architecture. Though an expensive construction, The Shed with its simple name and industrial-style architecture feels like a good reflection of the concept behind the functionality of the space.
Rather than spending their money on creating a luxury grand theatre, they’ve invested in creating a versatile structure that can be expanded and compacted as per the user’s need.
Beyond The Shed: Exploring Similar Transformative Architectural Marvels
This nature of spaces with architecture that transforms is not entirely unique to The Shed. There are a couple of other well-known examples of similar styles.
Caja Obscura, Paraguay:
In some way, it is an antithesis of many known definitions of architecture, as the idea is made by the absence of light. It is a house made of two levels – the habitable basement and the metallic box lying against the basement. The basement structure is made of stone and earth.
The metal box above is built in a way to pivot upwards creating a balcony-like space.
The Sliding House, Suffolk:
This seemingly simple linear building is sliced into three parts: the house, garage and annexe. The separate parts are transformed by a 20-tonne mobile roof/wall enclosure which traverses the site on railway tracks, similar to the design behind The Shed. As per its position, it gives opportunities for enclosure, open-air living and framed views.
This movement is powered by hidden electric motors on wheels integrated into the wall thickness. The composition is further defined by material and colour: glass, red rubber membrane, and red and black stained larch. (Studio, 2009)
References:
- ArchDaily. (2019). The Shed, a Center for the Arts / Diller Scofidio + Renfro. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/914639/the-shed-a-center-for-the-arts-diller-scofidio-plus-renfro.
- DS+R. (2015). The Shed. [online] Available at: https://dsrny.com/project/the-shed.
- Hole, R. (n.d.). dRMM de Rijke Marsh Morgan Architects. [online] dRMM de Rijke Marsh Morgan Architects. Available at: https://drmmstudio.com/project/sliding-house/.
