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Harlem Civil Rights Foundation

Part 2 Project 2003
John Baird
Grace Quah
 Newcastle University | UK
The Harlem Civil Rights Foundation is a timely inclusion to represent and interpret the history and general understanding of African American culture and heritage. The foundation is one of several interventions designed along the infamous Malcolm X Boulevard which, whilst economically deprived, remains a cultural and politically charged section of Manhattan serving an ambitious and colourful community. Special qualities of place are highlighted which go beyond a sense of physical identity that a location can convey. The building breaks through New York’s colour-line offering new open-ended public space to celebrate the vitality of everyday Harlem life. Urban landscaping is coupled with the creation of informal spaces in Central Park encouraging free movement into and out of Harlem and surrounding Manhattan . The formal cultural museum, the edifice, underpinned by research, is designed to represent the much longed after recognition of a race.


The Harlem Civil Rights Foundation is a celebration of African American Culture in Manhattan, New York. John’s intelligent research into the complex urban and social issues that surround this project has generated an architecture that promotes cultural identity and community ownership. Located at the northern edge of Central Park, this dramatic building is an urban gateway to the rich urban life of Harlem and particularly Malcolm X Boulevard. A complex time-line of social events influenced the design of the internal spaces as well as allowing the student to determine the way objects and art should be displayed. This building is a container of history, culture, politics community and emotion. John’s wide ranging design skills have been demonstrated in his ability to resolve complex master planning issues as well as producing elegant small-scale design details. This is a successful project based on a passion for research, analysis and development.
Tutor(s)
2003
Elizebeth Eckford, one of many inspiring individuals for the Project.
Harlem classified as a Ghetto is an intrinsic part of one of the most affluent cities in the world
A timeline of events produced to understand the community and produce a social matrix.
The decade that African Americans more than ever before defined themselves politically and culturally.
Master plan proposals to enforce a public realm along common avenues and streets, and promote multi-income blocks through the use of derelict brownstones.
The project has always been about multiple interventions along Malcolm X Boulevard recognising Harlem community, central park and the rest of Manhattan.
Site/plaza level plan. The site for the Harlem Civil Rights Foundation is on the historic colour line 110th street, incorporating design of multiple public spaces.
-1 level plan: the designed routes in all directions incorporate everday spaces from places to trade to landscaped gardens in Central Park.
View looking down onto lower plaza level and across to Central Park. Showing one of many new routes and public spaces created.
View from foyer looking towards central park.
Sect. thr’ research facilities & formal exhibition galleries. The exhibition facilities arranged as a the timeline have views to Harlem while Central Park’s aspect remains restricted through the façade and accessible only as the timeline progresses.
Section through the external and underground ramps: The second section is through the two voids of the building that link all five sections together through two large monoliths that exhibit possessions of the many unknown soldiers of civil rights.
Sectional perspective through ‘we shall overcome’ exhibition space containing artefacts of the slavery period. The glass structured façade while restricting views can be curatorial altered to allow transmission of more or less light.
The exhibition spaces are organized into five sections each an era of African American History. Each contains an entrance level of permanent exhibits, and performance space while the mezzanine contains precious works in a close environmental control.
Perspective view from exhibition space. The voids with the monolithic possession walls of unknown individuals killed because of phenotype link each section visually. The aspect to central park is dependant on ones whereabouts in the timeline.
The moveable louvres create an ephemeral facade, through the use of projections and lights its appearance can change highlighting Malcolm X day or merely promoting general issues while carefully relating occupants with the outside
Environmental issues, on top of social, are considered.A Thermal Labyrinth in central park is used to naturally condition air.The building and exhibits are arranged around the sunpath and a coupling system is included for heating and cooling requirements
The building has at all times been designed by its context; African American issues have influenced the design from the macro aspects of the master planning to the fine details of the building.
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