Jyväskylä Music and Art Center

OCEAN NORTH’s design for the Jyväskylä Music and Art Center commenced with the competition entry produced in 1997 [Phase 01] and continued with redesigning the project for the Venice Architectural Biennale 2004 [Phase 02]. Phase 02 retains the principle design ideas of the competition scheme, while re-defining its geometric, spatial, material and ambient articulation. The project aimed for a differentiated event space and an extension of the landscaped town square into an acoustically animated interior landscape that caters for formal symphonic and orchestral events and art exhibitions, as well as for informal cultural activities. The lattice structure and surfaces that articulates the interior is derived through iterative growth processes informed by performance requirements. The synergetic impact of the various systems working together was analysed in iterative steps. Digital structural and luminous performance analysis was conducted repeatedly in order to evaluate the emerging conditions and synergies between the various systems that make up the project. From the differential density and angular variation of the lattice systems and the varied distribution of sound-active elements, evolves a spatial and ambient differentiation of the scheme: a heterogeneous space, in which augmented spatial and ambient differentiation provide for choices between micro-environmental conditions that can provide for the time-specific individual requirements of inhabitants. The layered envelope consists of a transparent and reflective skin. Exterior and interior light conditions affect the layered gradients of reflection and transparency, which yield the perception of a boundless deep space. Directionality, density and layering of the lattices, and the surfaces and volumes that evolve from it result in the perception of a locally differentiated, yet vast space.

Since its acquisition in 2008 the project forms part of the permanent collection of the FRAC Centre (Fonds Regional d’ Art Contemporain du Centre) Orleans.

OCEAN NORTH

Phase 01 [1997]:
Project Coordination: Kivi Sotamaa, Johan Bettum, Markus Holmstén, Kim Baumann Larsen
Project Team: Lasse Wagner, Vesa Oiva, and Hein van Dam

Phase 02 [2004]:
Project Coordination: Michael Hensel, Achim Menges and Kivi Sotamaa
Project Team: Hani Fallaha, Shireen Han, Andrew Kudless, Neri Oxman, Nazaneen Roxanne Shafaie, Cordula Stach, Nikolaos Stathopoulos, Mark Tynan, Muchuan Xu