ARCS3107 Studio 5 – The Enigma Building (2021)

Project title

The Enigma Building: The Maritime Museum of Kozhikode

Author

Alex Saucier

Instructor

Roger Connah

Course

ARCS 3107 – Studio 5

Academic term

Winter 2021

Project Description

THE ENIGMA BUILDING ECHOES THE LONG MARITIME HISTORY OF TRADING AND SHIP CONSTRUCTION OF KOZHIKODE BY EXPOSING THE PUZZLING ISSUE OF THE BUILT FORM. LOCATED ACROSS FROM THE KOZHIKODE BEACH, ON A LARGE PIECE OF UNOCCUPIED LAND. IT PROVIDES EXHIBITS AND PUBLIC SPACES FOR LOCALS AND TOURISTS. THE “PUZZLING” STRUCTURE IS OPEN-AIRED BUT PROVIDES SHADE IN THE HOT INDIAN CLIMATE; A BAMBOO AND TEAK STRUCTURE TAKES SHAPE AS LONG RECTANGULAR FORMS WHICH HAVE UNDERGONE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT, MUCH LIKE A RUBRIC CUBE. THE BUILDING HINTS AT MATERIAL AND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS FROM THE TEAK SHIPS BUILT IN THE PAST AND WHICH ARE ALSO STILL BUILT NEARBY. A SINGLE STEEL BEAM RUNS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE BUILDING AND SUPPORTS THE STRUCTURE FROM BOTH ENDS. ONE CAN TRAVEL THROUGH THE BUILDING AS IT OPENS UP TO THE STREET; ALLOWING ONETO PASS WITHOUT COMING TO A STOP. THE MUSEUM’S EXHIBITS ARE LOCATED
BOTH IN THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR, CREATING A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO. THE BUILDING EMBRACES ITS LOCATION AS THE PROGRAM EMBODIES THE HISTORICAL HERITAGE AND CREATES VANTAGE POINTS FOR VIEWS OF THE BEACH.