West Cork Arts Centre
Competition Entry, September 2008
The form of our new structure was derived from the landscape of Ireland and the idea of the four peninsulas edging out into the Atlantic Ocean . The Arts Centre is composed of four slender volumes rising from the brook below. The volumes express the internal arrangement of spaces this expression takes on a monolithic and sculptural presence externally. The volumes have been limited in their height by restrictions imposed by the surrounding buildings. This has worked to the advantage of the design, in that, the four volumes produced feel more in keeping with the scale of the buildings arranged on the bank of the brook.
The internal arrangement is intended as a journey through a landscape, where the space does not have a singular function. Spaces that are considered circulation would also be used as gallery space, allowing for the building to flow throughout and not be confined to a series of individual spaces. The arrangement of the glazing and circulation had been set-up in such a way as to provide glimpses from one space into another helping to create an excitement and drive through the building.
