SCIENCE DEMO AT THE MIND MUSEUM
MORPHING GEOMETRY TO FUNCTION
TYPOLOGY CULTURAL
LOCATION TAGUIG CITY, METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
YEAR 2015
As the Philippines’ first world-class science center, the Mind Museum at Taguig has brought great recognition to the country. Filled with interactive exhibits that explain science and its contribution to our existence, the museum became a significant platform for learning and exploration.
The SCIENCE DEMO area is one such exhibit. As the name implies, it is an area for scientific experiments and presentations. Compared to other exhibits where interaction is contained to a minimal number of participants, the demo area could contain a relatively huge number of guests collectively learning about science.
The brief stated an improvement of the existing exhibit due to its limited seating area and lack of functional storage provisions, while creating a fun and interesting exhibit space.
The design evolved by exploiting geometric compositions that were altered on specific designations. To provide extensive storage for the equipment, a cabinet system was introduced along the length of the rear wall. The simple shape of a hexagon (expressed consistently around the museum development) was multiplied and strategically stretched and modified to accommodate the specific program requirements. This gesture created a clever composition of elements that integrate open and concealed storage for seating and equipment. LED lighting was carefully integrated into the cabinet system to purposely highlight strategic elements.
Additional seating consoles also expressed the same hexagonal shape and could easily be stored to specific niches that extend from the cabinet system.
The demo table continued the exploration of form within the space. Finished in solid surface material, it was formed by creating a single expression of movement –rising gradually and consistently sliding down back to the floor.
Through these strategies, the SCIENCE DEMO area managed to cohesively create a highly functional and visually stimulating experiential space for learning science.
