New glazing and an angular foyer crossed by a catwalk are among the many enhancements that US structure studios Eskew Dumez Ripple and CambridgeSeven have made to a Nineties nature museum in Louisiana.
Situated within the coronary heart of New Orleans, the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium sits on a web site overlooking the Mississippi River.
The museum – which encompasses 68,158 sq. ft (6,332 sq. metres) – is operated by the Audubon Nature Institute, a number one nonprofit devoted to environmental conservation.
The museum presents displays targeted on wildlife and habitats across the globe, from Louisiana bayous to South American rainforests.
The museum’s present house first opened within the early Nineties, with a design by native studio Eskew Dumez Ripple (EDR) and a number of other collaborating corporations.
For many years, the constructing – previously referred to as the Aquarium of the Americas – housed simply the aquarium, because the insectarium was situated in a separate constructing close by.
The latest renovation and growth was prompted by a want to replace and increase the museum’s choices, which included transferring the insectarium to the aquarium constructing.
The venture was designed by EDR in collaboration with CambridgeSeven, which is predicated in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“The venture is a surprising revitalization of a civic and cultural amenity within the coronary heart of New Orleans downtown, adjoining to the Mississippi River and the French Quarter,” the staff mentioned.
On the outside, the staff revamped the entrance facade – which appears east towards the river – by putting in a bird-friendly glass curtain wall and including a triangular entrance quantity, which glows from inside at night time.
“The brand new exterior facade possesses translucent and iridescent qualities,” mentioned EDR.
“Impressed by nature, and in a dramatic gesture to the unique constructing’s massing, a hovering crystal rises and dramatically extends out from the facet of the facade.”
Vital adjustments had been made inside. The staff created a brand new foyer, which options angular partitions, a grand staircase and a glass bridge.
“The expanded, two-storey foyer not solely creates area for improved customer companies, but in addition options dwelling inexperienced partitions, vibrant tensile creative murals and a dramatic LED set up,” mentioned EDR.
“A translucent, suspended catwalk divides the double-height area, offering dramatic views to the river and a chance to interact the grandeur of the foyer area from all instructions.”
On the northern finish of the constructing, a big theatre was eliminated to make approach for a ground-level occasion area and the upper-level insectarium, which goals to “educate guests concerning the worth of bugs and their important place in a wholesome earth biosphere”, the staff mentioned.
Encompassing 17,000 sq. ft (1,579 sq. metres), the insectarium features a moth vivarium, a butterfly backyard with flowering crops and a Bug Urge for food Cafe that gives “insect delicacies”.
All through the museum, many present displays had been refreshed or re-envisioned.
“The purpose with the exhibit design was to create a enjoyable expertise for guests to study concerning the surroundings and the way all of us can protect and shield the biosphere,” mentioned Adam Mitchell, a principal at CambridgeSeven.
One space contains a 60-foot-long (18-metre) contact pool stuffed with sea creatures. One other space presents lush greenery, free-flying birds and a two-toed sloth.
The constructing’s largest exhibit is a 400,000-gallon saltwater tank that holds a duplicate of an offshore oil rig and a wide range of sea animals, together with sting rays, sharks and sea turtles.
Different nature-focused museums in North America embody a Montreal insectarium that’s designed to emulate the expertise of being a bug, and an extension to Manhattan’s Pure Historical past Museum that has an undulating facade and cave-like inside.
The images is by CambridgeSeven and EskewDumezRipple.
Venture credit:
Architect: EskewDumzRipple
Exhibit designer: CambridgeSeven
Panorama: Spackman Mossop Michaels
Structural/civil engineering: Morphy Makofsky, Inc
MEP engineering: Moses Engineers
Media design: Cortina Productions
Lighting design: Eos Lightmedia
Graphic design: Natalie Zanecchia Design
LSS design: Andy Aiken
Exhibit fabricator: 1220 Displays
Mural artist: Patrick Maxcy
Development marketing consultant: Dupont-LeCorgne
Contractor: Broadmoor LLC
Shopper: Audubon Fee along with Audubon Nature Institute
