Museum of Contemporary Art in Warsaw – The use of real-time simulation in the design process

Graduation Project of Agata Kycia, Hyperbody Msc4 studio, TU Delft (tutors: dr. Nimish Biloria, dr. ing. Henriette Biere, Martin Sobota)

The museum is an annex of the Center of Contemporary Art, located in the XVIth century Ujazdowski castle in Warsaw. It is situated in a strategic point above the highway cutting through the city, highly visible while approaching the city thus making it a recognizable landmark.

The project consists of five different crystal-like volumes organized around a central courtyard, embedded in the landscape, engaging the visitors both through indoor and outdoor areas. The differentiation of the exhibition spaces is amplified by very specific daylight conditions related to different programmatic needs.

The computational techniques used for the form finding process, define a multiplicity of light shafts oriented and shaped according to the studies of the sun circulation on the site on a year-round cycle.

The museum offers  exceptional environment for manifestation of contemporary art, where light and atmosphere are constantly changing throughout the whole year.

Development of the project consists of different analytical stages:

1) a simulation developed in Processing, distributing different programms and light openings along the site, depending on their requirements in terms of factors like noise, sun exposure, accessibility and views

2) parametric studies in Rhinoscript investigating geometrical potential of positions for the light shafts

3) environmental studies in Ecotect and Radiance analyzing light conditions in different times of the day throughout the whole year