Commissioned
by the FRAGMENTAL MUSEUM to envision an urban outdoor structure/installation
experimenting with the nature of performing art spaces, OFF and EXYZT designed
BUFFER SPACE - a large-scale empty room with only the sky as its roof and a
technically efficient wire frame scaffolding envelope, which integrates
lighting and audio/video systems that sense and respond to the public-.
Buffer Space questions a major programmatic and museological dilemma: that places
like MadisonSquareGarden, a.k.a. "the World's Most
Famous Arena" attract a broader audience,and are more coercive in terms of
the general public they draw in. By hosting dog shows, sporting events,
political party conventions and pop concerts they have a stronger emotional
impact compared than exhibitions and events at the MET or the MoMA. Not to
mention "postponed" Guggenheims & Louvres around the world or the
ParishMuseum extension by Herztog & de
Meuron that are being redesigned with a drastically reduced budget (15 million
USD instead of 80 million USD).
Investigating the risk of a museum without permanent location or collection and
probably even without any conventional cultural program, the Buffer space
implements the Fragmental Museum's call to consider existing fragments of
space, time and culture by nesting an urban public space that uses anonymous
architectural vocabulary inspired by fire stairs, multi-level car park
structures and construction scaffolding, all of which are symptomatic of New
York and its density.
Rooted in the "cabinet of curiosities" tradition, in terms of
location and usage, this mobile and modular large scale set/stage design takes
an economical and adaptable approach for maximum flexibility. The proposed
initial installment site selected is the parking of the ClementeSotoVelezCenter, a cultural & educational
institution located in a generous late 19th century public school building,
currently undergoing major renovation and in great need of a space to reconnect
to its neibourhood : the multicultural Lower East Side.
As
foreclosed real estate properties multiply and the virtualization of digital
media content continues, this a-programmatic and open source performing art
space is probably a new kind of public space that is open to cultural
interaction by bringing back the prestige of the city to its citizen and
welcoming artist and activist of all kinds for public projects.
"We are the world..." and therefore you are all welcome even if its
just to desaturate from the city fast pace and branded environments to enjoy a
relaxing cold beer in this very spacious little rear yard. At night, the Buffer
Space become unmistakably the heart that New Yorker needed...