Gallery
Underneath
The Ramp
A new intersection in the gallery is a pedestrian ramp that slopes down from the street level to walkway and platform of Waverley Station. For traveller with luggage, who concerns accessibility in a space, the ramp makes them able to wander freely in the building. This intersection is not only a mode of circulation through the site, it provide new spatial conditions for programmatic functions, visual connections, and entry. Furthermore, the highlights are three grating-made boxes connected to the ramp. Tangibly and intangibly, they show a strong connection with the city.
The Art-info Box
According to the Edinburgh Art Map, provided by Grid supported by Creative Scotland, there are nearly fifty art events happen each month in Edinburgh. However, to people, who did not receive the map or read the information online, they might ignore these events. With the superiority of location, which situates at the central of Edinburgh. The site has a potential for spreading local information. Three grating-made boxes connected to the ramp act as transmitters and advertisements of the art activities, which currently happen in Edinburgh.Due to the limited height within box and floor, I intended to shrink the volume of the box with a more simple and light structure. For this reason, I chose steel grating as the material. Its transparent characteristic makes the box become an illuminate, and therefore visually alleviate volume of boxes. Moreover, even so the simple structure the box is built, it provides user a variable exhibition space. Inside the box, there are curtain, track lighting and picture hanging system, providing flexible usages and adapting to different expositions.
Activities
After a series of research, from site analyses (Figure 3&4), which includes the surrounding and the building itself, to some first-hand information, such as the questionnaire conducting opinion of travellers at Waverley Station. I found that the building is potential for transforming into a new tourist center, which combines a waiting space, tourist information, bookshop, café and a new gallery called Gallery Underneath. The gallery has grown underneath the building. It acts as a spot to disseminate latest local art information for tourists and habitant; provides a platform for people to exchange their experiences. By doing this, a better waiting environment, travel process and service for the travelers are provided. More importantly, the color of Edinburgh is retrieved. For more information about Gallery Underneath, please read the leaflet provided.